Articles

Seventy years ago, the seeds of a new world order were planted in Bandung. In the former colonial banquet hall, Sociëteit Concordia, leaders from Asia and Africa gathered to stand united against imperialism and domination. The building—once marked by a sign reading "Dogs and Natives Prohibited"—where Dutch officers, businessmen, and dignitaries had celebrated colonial power, became the stage for the Bandung Conference, a milestone in the struggle for independence and self-determination. What began as a bastion of colonial arrogance became a symbol of liberation.

At the call of the Workers’ Party of Belgium (PVDA-PTB), nearly 5,000 people marched through the streets of Brussels on Sunday 27 April against social cuts and for peace.

The European Left is a platform that brings together over 40 parties from across Europe fighting for a just society. On that occasion, we were delighted to welcome Walter Baier (President of the Party of the European Left), Sira Rego (Spanish Minister of Youth and Children), and Tea Jarc (Confederal Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation) to the PVDA-PTB’s national headquarters, where they spoke alongside our General Secretary, Peter Mertens. Faced with attacks on the working class, militarization, and the climate crisis, our response must be international. These are the struggles we will continue to wage alongside the Party of the European Left, trade unions, and civil society organizations.

The return of German militarism, the arms race in Europe and Washington's war rhetoric: all point to escalation. But as always, the power of peace lies below: with those who pay the price. Let's make the workers' movement a central force for disarmament, social justice and a socialist alternative, once more. Peter Mertens, General Secretary of the PVDA-PTB

Good evening. It’s a distinct honor to stand before you in London tonight. We gather at a time when the very foundations of our world seem to be shifting beneath our feet. The subtitle of my book, written in September 2023, was simply: 'How Our World is Tilting'. Little did we know then just how dramatically that tilt would accelerate. Over the past few months, through a series of writings, I’ve tried to make sense of the converging crises we face: the re-emergence of Donald Trump, the escalating militarization across Europe, and the ever-looming threat of war. Tonight, drawing on these reflections and the insights they offer, I want to paint a picture of this turbulent present and, perhaps, glimpse a path towards a more hopeful future.

On Monday, March 31, workers across Belgium stopped work and reminded everyone who truly keeps society running. The 100,000 demonstrators on February 13 had already issued a clear first warning to the newly formed 'Arizona' government, made up of the right-wing Flemish nationalist party (N-VA), the right-wing liberals (MR), Christian democrats (Les Engagés and CD&V), and social democrats (Vooruit). With no response from the Prime Minister’s office, this warning escalated into a massive mobilization from working-class Belgium, making the voice of the streets heard. This is the largest strike in 10 years.

Peter Mertens, General Secretary of the PVDA-PTB (Workers’ Party of Belgium) and author of the book “Mutiny”, discusses the turbulent meeting between Trump and Zelensky on Friday, February 28. He analyzes its consequences for Ukraine and Europe, as well as the dangers of calls for further militarization.

We deserve better than this 🍋 A wave of resistance and solidarity is sweeping through Brussels today for the union-led demonstration against the new, rightist Belgian government, dubbed ‘Arizona’. Nearly 100,000 people answered the call. Among them were many workers, both men and women, from all corners of the country and from various sectors, both private and public.

At the start of February Belgium finally has a new federal government. It took 236 days of negotiations. They call it Arizona, in reference to the colours of the flag of the state of Arizona, which reflect the 5 parties of this coalition government: N-VA (Flemish right-wing nationalist party), CDenV (Flemish Christian Democrat party), Vooruit (Flemish Socialist party), MR (French-speaking liberal party) and Les Engagés (French-speaking Christian Democrat party). The Prime Minister is Bart De Wever, historic leader of the Flemish nationalist party N-VA.

Eastern Congo is the dramatic scene of a war that has claimed 6 million lives over the past 27 years. Today, itʼs the city of Goma - one of the largest cities in the Congo - that is threatened to fall into the hands of Rwanda via the armed militia M23 and the regular Rwandan army present on Congolese soil. Hereʼs a behind-the-scenes look at an invasion that threatens millions of people. [Below find an explainer video by our MEP Marc Botenga in French]

Peter Mertens, Havana, January 31, 2025, 6th International Conference for World Balance. Below is the full text of his speech.

More than 30,000 teachers, railway workers, firefighters, peace activists, and more : together we were there to say stop to the government of Bart De Wever (N-VA) and George-Louis Bouchez (MR) who want to attack our pensions.