[Individual-members-EL] EL

[sigfrido ramirez]

Dear All,

 

I was in the first meeting of the EL Secretariat in Brussels, also
around 2002.

 

For six years I have also worked to build a network of individual
members in Brussels. 

 

I understand all frustrations which all we share. But let me tell you
that the responsible for this is not the office (the administration) but
the Bureau. I agree with Stephen point about Helmut Scholtz. But he and
the Bureau has to be sensible about the fact that people like us can
start quitting the EL if this keeps in this way. This has already
happened in our circle with people of great militant quality. 

 

Maybe the expectation of the European Elections can start making things
moving quickly to present EL lists all over Europe. But this is the
problem of a party working with unanimity rules and not majority. These
are contradictions which takes time to be solved. 

 

Indeed, everybody could talk with everybody but not in the "absence of
structure", because there seems to be some structures already.

 

But let me be clear about one political fact. The only collective of
individual members with representation is Sinistra Europea in Italy,
which is about 90% or more of all individual members. They are already
accepted as observers and have their structures. Therefore, the decision
to be organised in national chapters is already taken. Steven has
already requested the same on behalf of the other individual members. We
are thinking about doing the same in Brussels.

 

 Therefore the structures, even if thin exist. Now the question at stake
is whether these chapters could become full members. So, in my view this
is the heart of the matter. And not the office's people in Brussels.

 

If you wish info about our activities you can check this web page.
http://users.coditel.net/eberlinguerprc/sinistraeuropea.html 

 

Of course, if you are coming to Brussels, let us know.

 

Best wishes,

 

S

 

I have to write also a kind a report, in English and maybe also in
French for the new web page we are preparing to launch from the Circle
in Brussels.

 

-----Mensaje original-----
De: individual-members-el-bounces at listi.jpberlin.de
[mailto:individual-members-el-bounces at listi.jpberlin.de] En nombre de
Steve Spence
Enviado el: jueves, 07 de febrero de 2008 20:38
Para: individual-members-el at listi.jpberlin.de
Asunto: [Individual-members-EL] EL

 

Dear All,

 

I went to the Founding Congress of EL in 2002.  

 

For six years I've slowly worked to build a network of individual
members.  I was born in Northern Ireland, lived many years of my life in
Australia, and for the last six years I have lived in England. I'm an
internationalist not just in theory but in practice

 

It has been very difficult to build individual membership in England.
It took two years to get a membership form.  We still cannot pay money
by bank transfer from pounds to euro.  The party organisationally has
been unable to fix this.  These are some of the frustrations Uli has.
The Brussels office have responsiblity for individual members and they
do their best, but that is not their only purpose and the party does not
put time and energy into building individual membership.

 

In Prague in Novemebr at the second congress some individual members got
to speak for the first time.  It was agreed with Helmut Scholz that the
EB would discuss individual membership representation on the EB in
January.  I have heard nothing.  Helmut Scholz is a good man.  He is
just busy with national party things.

 

Again these are some of Uli's frustrations.  The party has individual
members but in reality the national parties are the bodies with the
rights.  We have few.  

 

On the question of authority.  We are individual members.  We each have
our own authority.  Let a thousand flowers bloom I say.  I would like
some coleective structure, that's why I've worked to build an English
network, but the party does not consider the question seriously.  I've
asked for European Left England to be given observor status but I've
heard nothing.

 

In the absence of structure I think Uli is quite right to talk to Helmut
Scholz or anyone else about anything he wants.  We all are.

 

This discussion is the liveliest for a while.  normally this list is
dead for months.  Well done Uli , for stirring things up!  

 

Bestest

 

Stephen

 

ps i hope to write my english report this weekend, last was wiped out.

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