Comments on: LCR to launch ‘anti-capitalist’ party in France

By: Andrew Coates

Andrew Coates — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 10:20:33 +0000

The majority of the Ligue are on a high after they got more than the PCF in the Presidentials. But note well, as Prinkipo says, they didn’t get enough (5%)to get the cash for their campaign funding. Hence the constant appeals on their site for dosh.

The idea that the LCR – if you know them – are going to be the self-announced core of a new all-embracing left party in France is frankly ridiculous.

The fact is that the Ligue has never been able to shake off the fact that it – like our own dear IMG – is a rite of passage for a certain kind of brilliant left intellectual, who is handsome and beautiful to boot (er, sorry I was straying there, writes Coatesy, ex-IMG, whose cell of seven in central London contained two LCR types).

Okay, unrelentingly boring and intense lefties on their way to being lawyers, members of the Parti Socialiste or journalists (hence the Le Monde report – it’s stuffed with ex-Liguers).

Does Dave imagine for one minute that Lutte Ouvriere and the PCF are going join this body?

Of and I hear that Bove’s mates are not pleased with the Ligue.

By: Prinkipo Exile

Prinkipo Exile — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 18:05:47 +0000

I thought the threshold for state funding was 5%, which the LCR fell short of?

Both the LCR and Lutte Ouvrier got EU money when they were represented in the European Parliament 1999-2004.

By: Dave

Dave — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 12:43:18 +0000

And – let’s be fair – the LCR gets state funding, on the same basis as all other French political parties, on a formula based on vote share.

By: chris y

chris y — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 12:16:10 +0000

How is the LCR funded?

With damned, red gold from Moscow! Oh, wait, no… Er, CIA? Saudi oil money? How about membership subs and income from publications?

By: badger

badger — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 10:03:09 +0000

This is a very good initiative and I wish it well. The Sarkozy neo-liberal attacks will need an organised response from left organisations and the broad swirl of independent leftists. They have at least one advantage over the English left.The LCR is a democratic organisation and is used to internal and external debate. The internal rigidities of the SWP mean that rank and file members are often just given the line.This means that, when they are working with others in campaign or within Respect, they “give the line” and find it awkward or even irrelevent to engage in political discussion to win people to their ideas and even to learn something!

By: plume de ma tante

plume de ma tante — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 09:43:52 +0000

Let’s hope it doesn’t all end in larmes

By: Benjamin

Benjamin — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 09:04:02 +0000

How is the LCR funded?

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 04:42:14 +0000

A very bad idea that given that the working class in France is not on the offensive but rather on the defensive and facing the prospect of significant atacks by Sarkosy. Given which there is little possibility of important new forces flocking to this ‘new party’.

I note further that the French affiliates of the SWP are already within the LCR.

By: Charlie Marks

Charlie Marks — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 01:30:16 +0000

Sounds like good news. I hope it can be repeated here.

By: cat

cat — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 00:21:47 +0000

Hope they don’t allow the SWP in. Look to Scotland if they need any persuassion. I would never work with the SWP again, individuals in the trade unions because you have to but as an entity – never.