Look Left, by the Left at the EP

From landmark legislation to heated debates, we explore the highs and lows, victories and setbacks that have shaped the political landscape in Europe since 2019. Co-President of The Left in the European Parliament, Manon Aubry, recaps a complex European Parliament term, giving her take on what we won, what we lost and what we learned.

EU leaders' reactions and inaction in response to the ongoing war on Gaza have proven controversial, not just on Europe's streets, but also in the halls of power. In this episode, we speak to Ahmed Abofoul from Palestinian NGO Al-Haq and Left MEP Marc Botenga to unravel the complexities and complicities of Europe's role in the crisis over the last months. What's the path towards justice and accountability for the people of Gaza, and how should Europe help us get there?

From the start, Big Tech was involved in the EU’s flagship law on artificial intelligence. But when the European Parliament tried to rein these giants in, the CEOs of Google, Open AI, and Microsoft descended upon Brussels. The result? A rush job and a law that prioritises profits over people. In this episode of Look Left, we dive into the AI Act with Left MEP Cornelia Ernst and Bram Vranken from Corporate Europe Observatory. We look at the influence Big Tech had over negotiations and ask if the law does enough to protect human rights.

Suitcases of cash, police raids, arrested politicians - it had the makings of a Netflix thriller. If Qatargate shone a light on the murky waters of corruption, conflicts of interest and lobbying, 12 months later can the EU honestly say it’s cleaned up its act? In this episode of Look Left, we delve into the scandal that shook the EU with Left MEP Leïla Chaibi and Shari Hinds from Transparency International EU. We examine the reasons behind Qatargate and ask whether enough has been done to weed out corruption in Brussels’ institutions.

Victory for Geert Wilders in the Netherlands. Riots on the streets of Dublin. A neo-fascist government in Italy. In the EU support for the far-right is on the rise. Where once these parties were united by their opposition to immigration, Islam and the European Union, new causes have also emerged. Culture wars, minority rights, the climate crisis are now all mainstays of far-right propaganda. But where fascism has changed, so too has anti-fascism. In this episode of Look Left, we spoke to Tea Jarc of the European Trade Union Confederation about the past, present and future of anti-fascism and trade unionism. We also spoke with former Left MEP, Sira Rego, about what it means to be anti-fascist in our changing world.

While millions of people have been hit by the cost of multiple crises, the richest of the rich are travelling into space and spending billions on ultra-luxurious and environmentally harmful activities. Now more than ever, it's time to tackle this enormous social inequality. So, what about taxing the rich? In the fifth episode of Look Left, we spoke with Tax Inequality Policy Advisor Chiara Putaturo to unpack the many tricks used by billionaires when it comes to tax dodging.With Left MEP Marc Botenga, we put the Wealth Tax under the lens and discussed the next steps the EU needs to take to make the rich and their big companies finally pay their fair share.