The Swiss Party of Labour (German: Partei der Arbeit der Schweiz; French: Parti Suisse du Travail - Parti Ouvrier et Populaire; Italian: Partito Comunista; Romansh: Partida svizra da la lavur) is a communist party in Switzerland.
The party was founded in 1944 by the illegal Communist Party of Switzerland. On May 21 the constituent conference of the Basel Federation of the party was held. On October 14–15 the same year the first Party Congress of the party was held in Zürich. Léon Nicole was elected President and Karl Hofmaier General Secretary.
On October 6–7, 1945 the Second Congress was held in Geneva. By this time the party has 20 000 members. On November 30-December 1 the 3rd Congress in Zürich.
On July 27 a Swiss Party Conference was held in Bern. Karl Hofmaier was removed from his position due to a financial scandal.
In the national elections of 1947 the party receives 5,1% of votes.
On July 4–6, 1949, the 4th Congress was held. Steps to strengthen the organization as a Cadre Party are taken. Edgar Woog elected General Secretary.
In 1950, the party works intensively for the Stockholm Appeal. 260 000 signatures are collected in Switzerland.
On May 31-June 2, 1952, the 5th Congress is held in Geneva. On December 7 the Central Committee expels Léon Nicole from the party.
On May 28–30, 6th Congress in Geneva.
On May 16–18, 1959, 7th Congress in Geneva. A new party programme approved with the concept of antimonopolistic unity, "Swiss Road to Socialism" (inspired by the similar programme of the Communist Party of Great Britain).
On May 16–18, 1964, 8th Congress in Geneva. It is associated with the European United Left - Nordic Green Left group in the European Parliament, although Switzerland is not in the EU.
In 2005, the party held 0.8% of the seats in the Swiss cantonal councils, but was not represented in any of the 26 cantonal governments.
In 2007, the Ticino section voted to change the cantonal party's name back to the earlier Partito Comunista.
Read more about Swiss Party Of Labour: National Elections 2007, Results At National Elections
Famous quotes containing the words swiss, party and/or labour:
“Nothing sets a person up more than having something turn out just the way it’s supposed to be, like falling into a Swiss snowdrift and seeing a big dog come up with a little cask of brandy round its neck.”
—Claud Cockburn (1904–1981)
“... the idea of a classless society is ... a disastrous mirage which cannot be maintained without tyranny of the few over the many. It is even more pernicious culturally than politically, not because the monolithic state forces the party line upon its intellectuals and artists, but because it has no social patterns to reflect.”
—Agnes E. Meyer (1887–1970)
“He’ll fear not what men say,
He’ll labour night and day
To be a Pilgrim.”
—John Bunyan (1628–1688)