The Left in the European Parliament

The Left in the European Parliament – GUE/NGL (The Left – GUE/NGL), until January 2021 named the European United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL), is a left-wing political group of the European Parliament established in 1995. As the most left-wing group in the European Parliament, it is mainly composed of anti-capitalist and democratic socialist parties, as well as some communist and eco-socialist parties, the Nordic Green Left Alliance (NGLA), the social democratic Greek Syriza (ΣΥΡΙΖΑ), and the populist Italian Five Star Movement (M5S).

The Left originated from the European United Left (EUL). As of 2024, the group was always part of the European Parliament, often being the fifth largest political group. After debuting with 34 members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and rising to 42 by 1999, the group fell to 35 seats in 2009. It obtained its best result in 2014 with 52 seats. After dropping to 41 MEPs in 2019 amid a green wave, it rebounded to 46 in 2024 as further parties joined the group.

Although the group was never part of the governing coalition, the Left exerted its influence in the European Parliament and at times formed a centre-left majority in some key votes. The group represents both mainstream and radical left-wing politics. The Left advocates for a more social, just, and democratic European Union (EU), opposing its austerity and neoliberal policies while favouring European integration.