Left-wing sovereigntism

The Sovereign Rebel

«Take back our currency, our budget and peace.»

Holds that the European Union and NATO serve capital and the elites, stripping peoples of democratic control over the economy. It calls for taking back national control of currency, budget and foreign policy to fund welfare and jobs and to stay out of wars.

In short

On the traditional scale, this ideology sits in the left camp. The clearest positions are on economy: strongly towards “equality”; foreign policy: strongly towards “pacifism”; sovereignty: strongly towards “sovereignty”; method: strongly towards “rupture”. On society, environment and justice it stays balanced. Among the other ideologies, the closest is left-wing populism (91%).

Principles

Without national sovereignty there is no social justice
No to wars and military blocs
The EU treaties must be broken, not reformed

Breaking free of EU constraints and military alliances to fund welfare and jobs through national decisions.

Common criticisms

The cost of leavingBreaking with the euro and the treaties can bring devaluation, inflation and capital flight.

Soft on MoscowCritics accuse it of going easy on Russia in the name of peace.

Awkward bedfellowsOn immigration and sovereignty it risks converging with the nationalist right.

Where it comes from

It took shape after the 2015 Greek debt crisis, with economists like Costas Lapavitsas, Jean-Luc Mélenchon's "Plan B" and later Sahra Wagenknecht, who founded the BSW in 2024.

Key figures: Sahra Wagenknecht, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, Marco Rizzo

Further reading: Die Selbstgerechten (The Self-Righteous) — Sahra Wagenknecht; The Left Case Against the EU — Costas Lapavitsas