Democratic Left (Ireland)

The Democratic Left ( Irish Daonlathas Clé ) was a socialist party that was active both in the Republic of Ireland and in Northern Ireland. It originated as a group after cleavage of the Workers ' Party.

The origins of the Workers' Party back to the split in the traditional IRA at the end of the 1960s. The more traditionally nationalist part founded the Provisional IRA, the ideologically leftist part of the movement established the Official IRA, and with it as a political wing, the Party Official Sinn Féin. After several name changes it was the Workers ' Party. In contrast to Sinn Féin, the WP did not as representatives of the Catholic population alone, but as a party of the workers in Ireland, whatever their denomination.

In 1992, there were disputes within the organization. Many of its members belonged to to be the Official IRA, which was inactive but continuously involved in a military sense since the 1970s in criminal activities. This became the permanent burden for the party. The party leadership, especially its leader, Proinsias De Rossa, the statutes of the party tried to change to the extent that alleged members of the OIRA could be excluded from the party. Their Marxist structures should be reformed in light of the post-communist era. The attempt failed, a two -thirds majority it was not achieved. Then came out of many leaders, including six of their seven members of Dáil Éireann. They founded a new party, the Democratic Left. To their new Chairman de Rossa was elected.

The electoral success in the parliamentary elections in 1992 was low at 2.8 %. However, when in 1994 failed the coalition of Fianna Fáil and the Labour Party, there was a new government coalition of parties, Fine Gael, Labour and Democratic Left. Proinsias de Rossa was minister for social affairs. On him Ireland's first initiative to eradicate poverty is declining.

• Historic Party ( Ireland)
• Irish history