Politics

In the 2009 European Parliament elections, the Green Group of MEPs won 13 more seats to become the 4th largest group. However when the European Parliament faces elections again in 2014, the political environmental will be vastly different. How to the Greens repeat their success of 2009 in such a situation? The Green European Journal talks to European Green Party Co-Chair Reinhard Bütikofer about his plans.

Inequality helped set in motion a downward spiral that resulted in the global financial crisis. Today, that inequality has finally been acknowledged as a central problem, and addressing it successfully can help us to not only overcome the crisis but to move to a more sustainable society.

The world view of GroenLinks is founded on three deeply-held convictions: Green, leftist and progressive. These ideals are still alive but each of them in turn points to the need for a sharper critique of capitalism and the neoliberal culture.

Whatever line the Green Party takes, all eyes should be on the French Greens, whose rejection of the Fiscal Treaty demonstrates that you can maintain your independence even while in government.

Voters dealt the Dutch GroenLinks party a painful blow. The solution is clear: the party must get its act together and pursue an unambiguously Green identity.

A political union, with a “Eurobond Parliament”, might offer a solution to the Eurozone crisis.

Today, democracy is too often based on short-term interests. Policies are therefore designed for that purpose – pre-election budgets for example – and the long term interests of the planet are given less priority.

The French Greens (Europe Écologie Les Verts) are at a crucial point in their history.

Polish commentator Cezary Michalski likens Germany to a nuclear power plant – providing energy to Europe when working well, but a destructive force when it fails.

The debate on what distinguishes the Green movement from the left has reignited in Sweden.