What’s changing in the group of the European United Left just one month after the elections? EuroparlTV met its chair Gabriele Zimmer to find out.

The new face of the European United Left

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One month after the elections:  what's changing in your political group?

Not only do we now have more MEPS  from the parties already represented,

there are also new parties  that have joined our group.

Some of them have just  entered the political arena

and have been elected because of their  different views on how to create policies.

They have been trusted  by young people in particular,

young intellectuals, young people  who want the European Union to change.

That's why our group  is becoming more open.

Does that mean the left is going more left  or is opening up to the left and the right?

It's not opening up to the right,  it never does.

Right from left,  let's put it that way.

No, it's left-wing in its purpose to change  the circumstances for people and nature.

We want more solidarity,  we want an end to austerity policy,

we want an end  to these tough budget cuts,

We want the European Union  to keep out of military affairs,

military interventions etc.  We all agree on that.

After the elections it was said that real  democracy would start in Europe,

that it was clear  who would become Commission President.

In the end it was obvious  that it was real a debate,

What do you think of  what happened after that?

It's a farce. The Heads of Government  themselves turned the election into a farce,

so in my eyes they have failed completely.

They should have taken the chance  and should have said...

with candidates being proposed  by political parties.

We had said that among those a candidate  should be proposed for the Parliament,

who would be thoroughly examined  by the Parliament.

It would then either support this candidacy  for the Commission presidency or reject it.

Not seeking advice from the  Parliament and its political forces,

not discussing with them the next  tasks and function of the Commission,

if it will change its role  within the Troika or not,

is no longer possible. The Heads of  Government need to understand that.

The time when they could simply  ignore the Parliament is over. It's over.

But the Heads of State and Government  have done

what's actually written  in the Lisbon Treaty.

They are the ones to propose the candidate.  The Parliament has the final say,

Maybe the Parliament went too far  at the beginning?

No, the Heads of Government tried to find  an alternative to the five candidates.

Then they said:  'We didn't agree on this procedure,

why should we give  the European Parliament more rights?

We don't see why. We should still decide  ourselves, the Heads of Government.'

Now they have to see  that this isn't possible.

One thing is for sure: if they now propose  a Commission presidential candidate

who isn't among the five, then this  candidate will not be approved by the EP.

Now that the elections are over, discussions  focus on forming a great coalition in the EP,

the EPP together with the S&D,  and a real opposition on the other side.

Where is your place in this constellation?

Will you take over the role of the  opposition?

In any case we won't join the great coalition  of conservatives and social democrats.

We are in favour of a stronger Parliament,

but that doesn't mean we will refrain  from our political requests,

from what we said  in the election campaign,

or that we let the parties of the great  coalition negotiate important posts

But what's generally changing  with 52 MEPs compared to the past?

What's happened so far  is what a conservative Europe wanted.

That's right.  There are election results we have to face.

The worst outcome of the elections is that  especially right-wing, nationalist parties

so I expect tougher discussions   in the European Parliament in the future.

We will make clear  that we are on the left

and there will be no signs of any kind of  anti-Europeanism from our side

Is it true that your group  is becoming younger?

Yes. With the political party Podemos  amongst us...

We're becoming more open,  broader, and more diverse.

I'm very happy about this rejuvenation  and completely new way of thinking

coming from people who aren't familiar  with these outdated party developments,

but who have been out on the streets and  aren't that interested in party structures,

who want to be close to the population  and who want change.

We'll see. Gabriele Zimmer,  many thanks for this interview.