Left Bloc
| Left Bloc Bloco de Esquerda |
|
|---|---|
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| Coordinator | Francisco Louçã |
| Founded | March 24, 1999 |
| Headquarters | Rua da Palma, 268 1100-394 Lisbon |
| Newspaper | Esquerda |
| Ideology | Eco-socialism Democratic socialism,[1] Anti-capitalism,[1] Progressivism |
| Political position | Far left |
| International affiliation | None |
| European affiliation | Party of the European Left European Anticapitalist Left |
| European Parliament Group | European United Left–Nordic Green Left |
| Official colours | Red |
| Local Government |
9 / 2,078
|
| Regional Parliaments |
2 / 104
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| Assembly of the Republic |
8 / 230
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| European Parliament |
2 / 22
|
| Website | |
| www.bloco.org | |
| Politics of Portugal Political parties Elections |
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Left Bloc (Portuguese: Bloco de Esquerda, pronounced: [ˈblɔku dɨ (ɨ)ʃˈkeɾdɐ]), sometimes translated as Leftist Bloc or Left-wing Bloc, is a Portuguese left-wing political party founded in 1999. It is sometimes abbreviated to B.E. (punctuated) but always spoken in its full name. Notable members include Fernando Rosas, Francisco Louçã and Miguel Portas (brother of right-wing leader Paulo Portas).
The Left Bloc (B.E.) is supported by independents and a number of left-wing political groups: the People's Democratic Union (União Democrática Popular, UDP), Revolutionary Socialist Party (Partido Socialista Revolucionário, PSR (ex-LCI)), and Politics XXI (Política XXI, PXXI). This party has from the beginning a full party status, yet the constituent groups have maintained their existence as political associations and some levels of autonomy, leading to a loose structure.
In 1999 the B.E. polled 2 % in the Portuguese legislative election, in 2002 this rose to 3 %, and in the 2005 election this rose to 6.5 % which won them 8 MPs. They also have had 3 MEPs in the European Parliament since the European Elections of 2009 (10,73%, surpassing for the first time the CDU platform, formed by the Greens and the Portuguese Communist Party) and many local councillors. This currently makes them Portugal's 5th party. The bloc is a founding member of the European Anticapitalist Left and participates in the Party of the European Left.
The Bloc proposed Portugal’s first law on domestic violence, which was passed in parliament through the support of the Portuguese Communist Party and the Socialist Party, and other important laws on civil rights and guarantees, including the protection of citizens from racist, xenophobic and homophobic discrimination, as well as support for same-sex marriage, laws for the protection of workers and anti-bullfighting legislation.
Its candidate Francisco Louçã received 288,224 votes (5.31%) in the Portuguese 2006 presidential elections. At the national elections in 2009 the party had 9,81 % of votes and 16 MPs in the 230-seat National Parliament. Later, in 2011, the BE was electorally decimated, lost half of its popular support and could only elect 8 MPs.
Half of the Left Bloc's MPs are female.
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[edit] Election results
[edit] Assembly of the Republic
| Election | # of votes | % of vote | # of seats | Place |
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| 1999 |
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| 2002 |
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| 2005 |
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| 2009 |
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| 2011 |
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[edit] European Parliament
| Election | # of votes | % of vote | # of seats | Place |
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| 1999 |
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| 2004 |
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| 2009 |
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[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Official Website (in Portuguese)
- Portuguese Left Bloc has deep roots among workers, Socialist Worker, 12 March 2005
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