[This article appeared under the headline: "A Specter Is Haunting Europe: The Left"
BUSINESS WEEK - Anti-capitalist, anti-globalization activists played a key role in defeating referendums on the European Union constitution in France on May 29 and the Netherlands on June 1. Relentless sniping from left-wingers in Germany's Social Democratic Party helped drive Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder to call for elections this fall, a year ahead of time. The left wing of Schroeder's party has sabotaged his reforms, contributing to defeats in regional elections that all but eliminated his support base.
So can Europe's long-splintered traditional left come back as a real political movement? . . . While few observers believe traditional leftists can win power outright, a loose coalition of left-wing Greens, militant unionists, and old-school socialists is preparing to play the spoiler as European leaders try to salvage the constitution and revive the economy. Already, leftist groups in France, Germany, and the Netherlands are informally coordinating with each other.
These new old leftists could have a polarizing effect on voters and complicate efforts by mainstream leaders to get the continent back on track. Leftists may also win seats in national parliaments, becoming power brokers should the major parties lack a majority
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