Party of Labour of Basel
Party of Labour of Basel Partei der Arbeit Basel | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1988 |
| Split from | PdA |
| Headquarters | Basel |
| Ideology | Communism Marxism-Leninism |
| Political position | Far-left |
| Website | |
| www | |
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The Party of Labour of Basel (German: Partei der Arbeit Basel), previously known as the Party of Labour Basel (founded in 1944) (in German: Partei der Arbeit Basel (gegr. 1944), abbreviated PdA 1944) is a political party in Basel, Switzerland. The party was formed after the orthodox pro-Soviet Basel party organization was expelled from the more reform-oriented Swiss Party of Labour in 1988.
1988 split in the Swiss Party of Labour
[edit]The PdA 1944 was formed in 1988, as the Basel party organization was expelled by the Swiss Party of Labour Central Committee.[1][2] The PdA 1944 represented the orthodox, pro-Soviet sector of the erstwhile Basel section.[3] At the time the Basel section was the strongest cantonal unit of the Swiss Party of Labour in German-speaking Switzerland.[2] The split was preceded by a dispute in the Swiss Party of Labour in Basel over an occupation movement at a cultural centre in the traditional working class neighbourhood St. Johann.[3] The Swiss Party of Labour Central Committee accused the Basel section of not adhering to new more liberal stances on youth, women, culture, minority rights, night work and alliance-building issues.[2] The Basel section, by contrast, adhered to the 1971 party program.[2]
Within the Basel section there was a minority of younger party activists, encouraged by the party organ Vorwärts, that was more in line with the positions of the Central Committee.[2] The orthodox Basel section leadership suspended the party memberships of the pro-Central Committee faction.[2] Following the split a 'New Party of Labour for Basel City and Basel Land' was set up, which was recognized by the Swiss Party of Labour Central Committee.[1][3]
Leadership
[edit]PdA 1944 had two seats in the cantonal legislature following the split.[2] Benny Degen was one of the leaders of PdA 1944.[3] As of 1991, Flurin Caviezel was the secretary of PdA 44.[4]
1991 elections and popular initiative
[edit]The PdA 1944 obtained 1.1% of the votes in the 1991 National Council election.[5] In 1991, PdA 1944 organized a popular initiative titled 'for an increase and indexation of child allowances for employees', which gathered 4,400 signatures.[6] The initiative was approved by the Grand Council.[6]
Name change
[edit]The 'New PdA Basel' was dissolved in 2014, after which the PdA 1944 adopted the name 'PdA Basel'.[7] In 2019, a new section of the Swiss Party of Labour was formed in Basel (using the name 'PdAS Sektion Basel'), working in parallel with PdA Basel.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Basler Stadtbuch, Vol. 109. Christoph Merian Stiftung, 1989. p. 303
- ^ a b c d e f g Année Politique Suisse. 1988 Parteien
- ^ a b c d TagesWoche. Benjamin Degen ist gestorben
- ^ CH-Kommunisten am Ende?, in Coop-Zeitung, issue 36/5, September 1991. p. 12
- ^ Nationalratswahlen: Elections au Conseil national. Eidgenössisches Statistisches Amt, 1995. p. 57
- ^ a b Année Politique Suisse. DIE GESETZGEBUNG IN DEN KANTONEN - LA LEGISLATION DANS LES CANTONS
- ^ a b Partei der Arbeit Schweiz Sektion Basel. Stellungnahme zu den Nationalratswahlen in Basel