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.

Party of Labour of Basel
Partei der Arbeit Basel
Founded1988
Split fromPdA
HeadquartersBasel
IdeologyCommunism
Marxism-Leninism
Political positionFar-left
Website
www.pda-basel.ch
1991 election poster of PdA 1944

1988 split in the Swiss Party of Labour

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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 [de].[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

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PdA 1944 had two seats in the cantonal legislature following the split.[2] Benny Degen [de] was one of the leaders of PdA 1944.[3] As of 1991, Flurin Caviezel was the secretary of PdA 44.[4]

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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

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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

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  1. ^ a b Basler Stadtbuch, Vol. 109. Christoph Merian Stiftung, 1989. p. 303
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Année Politique Suisse. 1988 Parteien
  3. ^ a b c d TagesWoche. Benjamin Degen ist gestorben
  4. ^ CH-Kommunisten am Ende?, in Coop-Zeitung, issue 36/5, September 1991. p. 12
  5. ^ Nationalratswahlen: Elections au Conseil national. Eidgenössisches Statistisches Amt, 1995. p. 57
  6. ^ a b Année Politique Suisse. DIE GESETZGEBUNG IN DEN KANTONEN - LA LEGISLATION DANS LES CANTONS
  7. ^ a b Partei der Arbeit Schweiz Sektion Basel. Stellungnahme zu den Nationalratswahlen in Basel