News
Speech by Peter Mertens, secretary general of the PTB, at the public event of the 8th congress of the European Left held in Brussels on 18 April, which brought together 40 European parties to fight against austerity, to stop militarisation and to win the future. Saturday 18 April 2026
Analysis
War and the militarisation of society, rising energy prices and industrial crisis: Europe is at a crossroads. On 17 and 18 April, Brussels hosted the congress of the European Left. 106 delegates from all over Europe came together to develop a common response to the situation and decide on guidelines for the next three years. The PTB became a member of the European Left in 2025, and has since played an active role.
Interview
As US and Israeli airstrikes continue to devastate Iran, Peter Mertens, PVDA-PTB's General Secretary, sat down with Mohammad Omidvar, spokesperson of the Tudeh Party of Iran - the country's oldest left-wing opposition party, founded in 1941 - to discuss the ongoing crisis from a progressive Iranian perspective.
Analysis
Gas prices are going through the roof because of a dirty and illegal war waged by Trump and Netanyahu. Ordinary people will foot the bill through their heating costs or at the pump.
News
The attitude of European leaders towards the attack by the United States and Israel on Iran is shocking. Neither Ursula Von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, nor Kaja Kallas, the EU's "Foreign Minister", nor most European or Belgian leaders have condemned the attack. On the contrary, they have condemned Iran's response. A joint statement by the French, German and British governments even suggests that the Europeans would like to join this war of aggression in order to defend "their allies".
Analysis
A European industry summit attended by 600 CEOs, an informal summit of heads of state devoted to "competitiveness", a declaration by European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen in Davos, and repeated outings by prime minister Bart De Wever... European leaders and "captains" of industry are using the industrial crisis to impose their agenda, without even a democratic debate.

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