Statement by Walter BAIER, European Left Lead Candidate and Q&A. On Sunday 9th June 2024, the hemicycle of the European Parliament in Brussels transforms into a press room on the occasion of the election night. Over several hours, journalists from all over Europe follow the results thanks to national estimates and exit polling data. From 6 to 9 June 2024, around 360 million Europeans are called to the polls to elect the 720 members of the next European Parliament. The constitutive session of the newly elected Parliament will take place in July, in Strasbourg. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Brussels

statement

The Left

2024 European elections (T)

BAIER, Walter (AT)

European Elections Night 2024 - Statement by Walter BAIER, European Left Lead Candidate and Q&A

SOUNDBITE (Original), Delphine COLARD, Head of Spokesperson’s Unit and Deputy spokesperson, And now we will welcome on stage Walter Baier for the party of the European Left.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Walter BAIER, European Left Lead Candidate, Thank you very much. The Left has maintained its strength in this European election. This in an adverse atmosphere. And that means that, we are in a position to continue to defend the values for which we fought in the electoral campaign. This is social justice. This is the right to affordable, decent climate adequate housing.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Walter BAIER, European Left Lead Candidate, This is the right for decent and secure jobs. This is the right to universally accessible public services. This is the right for a just transition to an ecological, sustainable, economy. And this is the right of, women for self-determination, for safe abortion. And last and certainly not least, this is the right for peace.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Walter BAIER, European Left Lead Candidate, We have in a number of countries, remarkably good results. We are particularly happy about that. After, a period of absence of the left in Italy, comes back to the political scenery. We are proud about the results we have in Scandinavia and northern Europe. And we are very happy about results in Belgium. And there are other examples of a good showing of our party.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Walter BAIER, European Left Lead Candidate, It seems to be that there exists an agreement between the forces of the grand Coalition, the European People's Party, the Social Democrats and, Renew, to continue their alliance, their cooperation. We acknowledge this fact, of course, but it would be a severe mistake to misunderstand the outcome of the election as a carte blanche for, continuing, business as usual. And to go back to the failed politics of austerity.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Walter BAIER, European Left Lead Candidate, I say this, because these failed politics have created the breeding ground for the rise of the far right in a number of countries. I mentioned France, and, I am very unhappy about the fact that I also have to mention my home country, Austria, in which the FPÖ, which is a clearly neo fascist party, managed to come out as the strongest party.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Walter BAIER, European Left Lead Candidate, As far as The Left is concerned. We will continue opposing in the European Parliament anti social, neo liberal, politics. At the same time, I want to be very clear. We are available for any sort of progressive forces, for any sort of progressive reforms and cooperation with progressive forces which may yield to progress for the working people, for social and ecological sustainability and for social equality. And in this way, we will try to work inside the European Parliament, but as well outside the European Parliament. Thank you for your attention.

Q&A, How do you view the rise of Sahra Wagenknecht in Germany?

SOUNDBITE (Original), Walter BAIER, European Left Lead Candidate, It's one of the symptoms of the disillusionment of broad layers of the society, with the current politics. With the politics of social degradation? With the politics of neoliberal downsizing of public services, particularly in the eastern part of Germany. But let me at the same time say that our member party is the Die Linke and we are happy that they will be represented in the European Parliament and, will be, of course, part of The Left group.

Q&A, She won't be part of your group in the parliament, right? Sahra Wagenknecht

SOUNDBITE (Original), Walter BAIER, European Left Lead Candidate, We don't know yet, actually. The party has not decided on its political identity. And also not on the alliances, which it wants to join on the European level.