Left Bloc
Encyclopedia
Left Bloc 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 MP
s. 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.
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
left-wing political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
founded in 1999. It is sometimes abbreviated to B.E. (punctuated) but always spoken in its full name. Notable members include Fernando Rosas
Fernando Rosas
Fernando José Mendes Rosas is a Portuguese historian and politician.- Early life and education :Rosas was born on the April 18, 1946. He studied at the Pedro Nunes high school, and in 1961, he joined the school's Portuguese Communist Party organization, a party for which he was later a militant.He...
, Francisco Louçã
Francisco Louçã
Francisco Anacleto Louçã is a Portuguese economist and politician, first elected in 1999.. He is the son of António Seixas Louçã, who commanded a ship on the Tagus River during the Carnation Revolution, and wife Noémia da Rocha Neves Anacleto , a lawyer.Louçã was an active opponent of the...
and Miguel Portas
Miguel Portas
Miguel de Sacadura Cabral Portas is a Portuguese politician and a Member of the European Parliament for the Left Bloc; part of the European United Left–Nordic Green Left group...
(brother of right-wing leader Paulo Portas
Paulo Portas
Paulo de Sacadura Cabral Portas , commonly known just by Paulo Portas , is a Portuguese politician, party leader of the Democratic and Social Centre – People's Party , a member of the Portuguese Parliament and former Portuguese minister of State, National Defense and Sea Affairs.In 2011, after he...
).
The Left Bloc (B.E.) is supported by independents and a number of left-wing political groups: the People's Democratic Union
People's Democratic Union (Portugal)
The People's Democratic Union is a marxist political movement in Portugal. The UDP transformed itself into a political association at its 15th congress due to its merger with other left-wing parties in the Left Bloc....
(União Democrática Popular, UDP), Revolutionary Socialist Party
Revolutionary Socialist Party (Portugal)
The Revolutionary Socialist Party was a small far-left Party in Portugal, founded in 1978 after the merger of two Trotskyist parties - the Internationalist Communist League and the Workers Revolutionary 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
Portuguese legislative election, 1999
The Portuguese legislative election of 1999 took place on October 10. The Socialist Party was aiming a second term under the lead of António Guterres, in the end the Socialist Party won the election, but missed what would be an historical absolute majority for the party by only one MP.The Social...
the B.E. polled 2 % in the Portuguese legislative election, in 2002
Portuguese legislative election, 2002
The Portuguese legislative election of 2002 took place on March 17. These elections were called after the resignation of the former Prime-Minister, António Guterres after a defeat of the Socialist Party in the local election of 2001...
this rose to 3 %, and in the 2005 election
Portuguese legislative election, 2005
The Portuguese legislative election of 2005 took place on February 20. These elections were called after the decision of President Jorge Sampaio on November 30, 2004 to dissolve the Parliament as an answer to the political instability caused by the government led by Pedro Santana Lopes in...
this rose to 6.5 % which won them 8 MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
s. They also have had 3 MEPs in the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
since the European Elections of 2009
European Parliament election, 2009 (Portugal)
The European Parliament election of 2009 in Portugal was the election of the delegation from Portugal to the European Parliament in 2009.The lists are headed by*Socialist Party : Vital Moreira...
(10,73%, surpassing for the first time the CDU
Unitarian Democratic Coalition
The Democratic Unity Coalition is an electoral and political coalition between the Portuguese Communist Party and the Ecologist Party "The Greens"...
platform, formed by the Greens and the Portuguese Communist Party
Portuguese Communist Party
The Portuguese Communist Party is a major left-wing political party in Portugal. It is a Marxist-Leninist party, and its organization is based upon democratic centralism. The party also considers itself to be patriotic and internationalist....
) and many local councillors. This currently makes them Portugal's 5th party. The bloc is a founding member of the European Anticapitalist Left
European Anticapitalist Left
The European Anticapitalist Left is an informal network for European anticapitalist left wing parties. EACL met for the first time in Lisbon in March 2000 with the representation of the Scottish Socialist Party, the Portuguese Left Bloc, the Danish Red-Green Alliance, the French LCR, and the...
and participates in the Party of the European Left
Party of the European Left
The Party of the European Left, commonly abbreviated to just the European Left, is a political party at European level and an association of democratic socialist and communist political parties in the European Union and other European countries. It was formed in January 2004 for the purposes of...
.
The Bloc proposed Portugal’s first law on domestic violence
Domestic violence
Domestic violence, also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering, family violence, and intimate partner violence , is broadly defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, or cohabitation...
, 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
Francisco Louçã
Francisco Anacleto Louçã is a Portuguese economist and politician, first elected in 1999.. He is the son of António Seixas Louçã, who commanded a ship on the Tagus River during the Carnation Revolution, and wife Noémia da Rocha Neves Anacleto , a lawyer.Louçã was an active opponent of the...
received 288,224 votes (5.31%) in the Portuguese 2006 presidential elections
Portuguese presidential election, 2006
The Portuguese presidential election were held on 22 January 2006 to elect a successor to the incumbent President Jorge Sampaio, who was term-limited from running for a third consecutive term by the Constitution of Portugal...
.
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.
Assembly of the Republic
| Election | # of votes | % of vote | # of seats | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 Portuguese legislative election, 1999 The Portuguese legislative election of 1999 took place on October 10. The Socialist Party was aiming a second term under the lead of António Guterres, in the end the Socialist Party won the election, but missed what would be an historical absolute majority for the party by only one MP.The Social... |
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| 2002 Portuguese legislative election, 2002 The Portuguese legislative election of 2002 took place on March 17. These elections were called after the resignation of the former Prime-Minister, António Guterres after a defeat of the Socialist Party in the local election of 2001... |
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| 2005 Portuguese legislative election, 2005 The Portuguese legislative election of 2005 took place on February 20. These elections were called after the decision of President Jorge Sampaio on November 30, 2004 to dissolve the Parliament as an answer to the political instability caused by the government led by Pedro Santana Lopes in... |
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| 2009 Portuguese legislative election, 2009 Legislative elections in Portugal were held on 27 September 2009 to renew all 230 members of the Assembly of the Republic. The Socialist Party, led by incumbent Prime Minister José Sócrates, won the largest number of seats, but didn't repeat the overall majority they gained in 2005.The Socialist... |
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| 2011 Portuguese legislative election, 2011 A general election was held in Portugal on 5 June 2011 to elect all 230 members of the Assembly of the Republic. Pedro Passos Coelho led the center-right Social Democratic Party to victory over the Socialist Party, led by incumbent Prime Minister José Sócrates... |
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European Parliament
| Election | # of votes | % of vote | # of seats | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 European Parliament election, 1999 (Portugal) The European Parliament election of 1999 in Portugal was the election of MEP representing Portugal constituency for the 1999-2004 term of the European Parliament. It was part of the wider 1999 European election... |
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| 2004 European Parliament election, 2004 (Portugal) The European Parliament election of 2004 in Portugal was the election of MEP representing Portugal constituency for the 2004-2009 term of the European Parliament. It was part of the wider 2004 European election... |
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| 2009 European Parliament election, 2009 (Portugal) The European Parliament election of 2009 in Portugal was the election of the delegation from Portugal to the European Parliament in 2009.The lists are headed by*Socialist Party : Vital Moreira... |
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External links
- Official Website (in Portuguese)
- Portuguese Left Bloc has deep roots among workers, Socialist WorkerSocialist WorkerSocialist Worker is the name of several socialist/communist newspapers associated with the International Socialist Tendency...
, 12 March 2005