03/07/2018 (Agence Europe) – At its party conference on 1 July, the French Parti de gauche (PG) voted by an overwhelming majority (208 votes to two and three abstentions) to leave the European Left (EL), as they no longer wish to belong to the same European political group as Syriza, the party of the Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, which they consider a “representative of the austerity line”, the French newspaper Politis reports in an article dated 2 July. Relations between the PG and the EL have always been strained. In 2013, the PG temporarily suspended its membership of the EL after Pierre Laurent, national secretary of the French Communist Party (PCF), was given a further term as leader of the European party. The far left and Euro-critical parties are currently regrouping in the run-up to the European elections of 2019 (see EUROPE 12050). (PH)