MBDA’s Alabama factory makes components for Boeing’s GBU-39 bombs used to kill civilians in Gaza. Its profits flow through Stevenage to Paris — and it is one of the British government’s favourite firms, reveals SOLOMON HUGHES
German elections amid capitalist crisis
With federal elections coming up in Germany in February, NICK WRIGHT takes a look at the class forces shaping the policies of the main parties, and sees little hope of a breakthrough for the left
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (left) and AfD co-leader Alice Weidel
President Maduro mobilises the 4.5 million-strong Bolivarian National Militia in response to US ‘threats’, vowing to defend the country’s sovereignty and independence, DEVIN B MARTINEZ reports
Washington plays innocent bystander while pouring weapons and intelligence into Ukraine, just as it enables the Gaza genocide — but every US escalation leaves Ukraine weaker than the neutrality deal rejected in 2022, argue MEDEA BENJAMIN and NICOLAS JS DAVIES
For those in the West, hunger is often just the familiar feeling of a growling stomach between meals — in Gaza, it has become a strategic weapon of slow, systematic and deadly destruction, writes MARC VANDEPITTE
After almost two decades of rule by the Movement Toward Socialism, once led by Evo Morales, right-wing parties have emerged in the lead after the first round of elections on August 17 and are now in control of the legislature, reports PABLO MERIGUET
DAVID MATTHEWS looks at what a collective future for welfare might have in store for us
CHANCELLOR Olaf Scholz’s three-party class cuddle coalition has collapsed. The unholy assembly of Scholz’s Social Democrat Party (SPD), the petit bourgeois Greens and the neoliberal Free Democrats has disintegrated under the burden of Germany’s growing economic crisis and the problems facing the German model of managed capitalism.
One expression of the break with the recent past is the rise, within the opposition Christian Democrat Party (CDU), of its latest leader Friedrich Merz, whose long contest with former party leader and chancellor Angela Merkel ended with her retirement. Since then the political landscape in Germany has changed and while the full disposition of political forces will not be visible until the election is over, the outline is taking shape.
The latest opinion polls have the SPD on 16.5 per cent, the conservative CDU/CSU alliance on 24.2 per cent, the Greens on 12 per cent, the neoliberal FDP on 3.5 per cent ,the far-right Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) on 20.5 per cent, Die Linke on 4 per cent and Bundnis Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) on 7 per cent.
More from this author
Starmer sabotaged Labour with his second referendum campaign, mobilising a liberal backlash that sincerely felt progressive ideals were at stake — but the EU was then and is now an entity Britain should have nothing to do with, explains NICK WRIGHT
Deep disillusionment with the Westminster cross-party consensus means rupture with the status quo is on the cards – bringing not only opportunities but also dangers, says NICK WRIGHT
Holding office in local government is a poisoned chalice for a party that bases its electoral appeal around issues where it has no power whatsoever, argues NICK WRIGHT
From Gaza complicity to welfare cuts chaos, Starmer’s baggage accumulates, and voters will indeed find ‘somewhere else’ to go — to the Greens, nationalists, Lib Dems, Reform UK or a new, working-class left party, writes NICK WRIGHT
