Argentina: Left, committees, match and strategy. We can advance much further
By Sergio Garcia, originally published in leftist journalism.
The political map of our country is reconfigured to the rhythm of the government crisis, the fragmentation of a Peronism that disappoints and the emergence of the left as a leading and rising political actor. After a few months of the beginning of a turn to the left of a significant segment of the population, It is no longer surprising that Myriam Bregman and the Left Front appear in every survey and opinion study above 10% of voting intention.. In the case of Myriam, with higher levels of positive image above other figures of the Argentine political regime. Which anticipates that the jump on the left has not reached its ceiling.
There is no way to intervene correctly in the present and future without assimilating in all its magnitude this very positive change that is taking place and which could well be just the beginning of a higher qualitative leap.. For our part, we begin by considering this situation as unprecedented., highly progressive and as a promoter of the greatest challenge that the revolutionary left has had in decades: the possibility of bringing together our militant development and political weight in combination with next leaps in the class struggle. Process that if in perspective develops and condenses, can give rise to the hypothesis of a dispute for political power. We are talking about all that, not only a jump limited to the electoral, which from now on would be positive, nor a little more or less of militancy and political influence. Because, The general content of what we propose places the bar where reality suggests that it is possible to reach. Anything less than that can only be done if the magnitude of the phenomenon in progress is not understood.
It is this exciting and developing context that fuels a whole series of debates that spread to the left and of which referents are part, intellectuals, militants and thousands of followers of the left who attend all types of events with their desire to participate and their opinions. In the tour and organization of events throughout the country, that different MST leaders have been carrying out, We confirm this situation and the growing desire to join the political organization that is evident in sectors of the working class and youth.. They are events with a high component of participation of independents and sympathizers., as a sign of the attraction generated these days by the ideas of the left and the presence of its references and spokespersons.
Faced with this new situation and on an upward path, If there is something that cannot be done, is the same as before or just anchoring in the past terrain conquered or in organizational forms that, if they were already limited, In this new scenario they are even more so. To give an example in relation to the Left Front, a unity that we value and defend as necessary continuity, although for a long time we have been suggesting that its electoral format is an obstacle to responding to political needs. These same obstacles and electoral formats are even more so today.. Hence, facing the new situation, We cannot only respond with the defense of the FIT-U as such, but to start from its defense to go for much more. In this sense, We do not share the PO and IS assessments that are the focus of the FITU with the model as it is.: limited to an electoral-only agreement. As if it will not need to change or improve itself qualitatively.
In our opinion, The defense of our unity front on the left must always go hand in hand with seeking mechanisms to improve it and transform it into something much more positive than it is today.. The shift to the left that we are witnessing and on which we intervene requires much greater political agreements that integrate electoral participation with unity in the class struggle and in all areas of political dispute.. And the political organization that needs to be built has to take on the challenge of responding together to all these questions of reality.. In this plane, We consider it very useful and appropriate that the FIT-U organizes a series of forums on various topics, putting them up for debate., because in this way it contributes in part to working to put the center on issues of greater importance.
Strategy and revolutionary party
For these reasons, we consider it positive to thoroughly address the debate on the need to politically take advantage of this leap in the position of the left., to try to build a great political organization, militant and revolutionary of the working class and youth. Actually, It is the most strategic debate of all, since history shows that the processes of revolution do want to advance, they obviously require the objective existence of very high levels of class struggle, of dual power organizations and a revolutionary leadership that from its party disputes with a correct line in the class struggle and within those self-organizing organizations that may exist. There is no example in contemporary history that has demonstrated that without a revolutionary party it has been possible to advance in a socialist and revolutionary sense.. That's why we're not debating something minor or tactical., but pure and decisive strategy.
In this plane, The comrades of the PTS have proposed the promotion of a movement for a party of the new working class and the formation of committees throughout the country for that objective. As we have already raised publicly and in particular we have expressed it to the colleagues who promote it, From the MST we are in favor of promoting these committees together and we are also in favor of developing in unity this strategic debate that we share towards the formation of a great party of thousands of militants.. For these objectives, it would be optimal for the PTS colleagues to quickly enable the possibility of meeting in common committees., something that thousands of colleagues expect and that is evident as a need of the moment.
Precisely because we consider that the situation places us before a historic and unprecedented challenge, is that we start from making the greatest efforts to find substantive political agreements for these tasks and objectives.. It is clear that, if we look back, throughout the revolutionary left we are going to find important agreements, nuances and differences. Both, It should never be an impediment or an obstacle to finding substantive agreements in the present and future., which is ultimately decisive. The political leaderships that have the revolution on their political horizon always have to make the greatest efforts to find substantive agreements that act as a positive lever and a qualitative impulse forward..
Regarding the possibility of advancing a movement towards a common party, Logically, there are debates about how to do it in the best way.. The first thing, in our opinion, is to agree on what we want to build. In this sense, We consider and propose taking steps towards the formation of a new and great revolutionary party, that unites for political dispute and class struggle, to thousands of new activists and to the militancy of the parties that we are willing to take that step together. We are not talking about a tactical front, nor from a broad party, nor of an electoral organization. We talk about building a revolutionary party, with a revolutionary and socialist program, with the strategy of taking power by the working class and for its government and with the method of democratic centralism to function.
Indeed, To reach that goal there must be transitions that can be expressed in statutes for as long as necessary., as we come from different backgrounds and political experiences. Hence our proposition that this party has to allow internal tendencies to reflect and contain that reality and facilitate full incorporation and the processing of debates or differences that exist.. This form does not go against democratic centralism, since the existence of trends does not eliminate the fact that the operation is through voting and the application of the majority line that is adopted on each issue and moment.
something similar, that takes into account origin and previous experience, can be resolved around the international issue. Where neither political lines nor forms of construction can be imposed from one day to the next. Everything can be debated, take majority and minority positions. Likewise, democratically allow them to express themselves and for everyone to have free international affiliation. Until time allows us to see if there are major agreements to be developed at the level of internationalist and revolutionary construction.
In summary, On these and other issues we are debating and exchanging with the comrades of the PTS and we want to do so with all those who are in favor of moving forward together in the construction of a new and great party of thousands of militants.. It is the most strategic and decisive task. It needs a very deep debate and a lot of patience and understanding of what it means to work together among those of us who come from diverse political experiences within the revolutionary left.. A process that to be carried out requires listening to ourselves, to work with loyalty, to truly believe that a single force cannot solve problems that need the contribution and strength of various directions and organizations. A process that condenses the merger of organizations, leaders and cadres, combined with the incorporation of thousands of new militants, to give rise to a much superior political tool for the enormous challenges that are coming. Is such a complex goal possible?? Of course. It depends first of all, of the revolutionary will to really want to try. From us, In that we are.
*The cover photo is from the recent MST event in Córdoba, with Alejandro Bodart and Luciana Echevarría
