democrats reports In September 1998 Gerhardt Schroeder promised that . "German troops would only go outside our frontiers if they have a UN mandate." But al the recent SPD • congress the Chancellor blocked a left-wing motion opposing any NATO ground war in Yugoslavia, and successfully imposed motion approving the bombing campaign, though without count-. ing the votes for and against.
In response, the left within the SPD went public with its opposilon to the war. Federations in Bremen, Schleswig-Holstein and Munich issued proclamations, as did the "Frankfurt Circle"and eight SPD members of parliament, including Andrea Nahles, president of the Party's youth wing (Yusos). Former minister Oskar Lafontaine has also condemned the war.
French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin has had little difficulty containing dissidents within the ruling Socialist Party. The Socialist Left Current (Gauche socialiste) of Gerard Filoche, Jean-Luc Melanchon and Julien Dray has spoken out against the NATO Leading the charge - or taking back seat to Clinton? Tony Blair bombing and in favour of Kosovar rights. But they focus on their criticism on the US rather than on France's SP-led government.
Jean-Pierre Chevenement's Citizens' Movement (MDC), a dissident faction outside the socialist party, but strongly represented in the government, has a much clearer anti-war position, though MDC leaders continue to stress their loyalty to the Jospin government.
There was little initial support for the NATO intervention in Italy, though a majority of voters seem to support NATO bombing. The first toespeak out against the bombings were the Refounded Communists (PRC) and the Pope. Italy is a key base for the NATO intervention, and centre-left Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema has manoeuvred hard to maintain elite consensus and public support for the intervention. Italy's government is an unusually broad coalition, within ST OTLOOK which a number of left currents have criticised D'Alema, though stop short of anything that could bring down the government.
119 of Italy's 630 MPs have demanded a NATO ceasefire, opposed a ground intervention, and condemned ethnic cleansing - though stressing their "loyal and total support for the government".
This dissident platform has been signed by all the Green MPs, supporters of ex-PRC leader Armando Cossuta, and dissidents within the DS and PPI.
With fanatic pro-NATO leaders like former Prime Minister Filipe Gonzalez and current NATO president Javier Solana, Spain's social democrats (PSOE) support the conservative government's pro-intervention discourse.
Only three PSOE MPs, from the Left Current (IS) abstained in the vote approving Spanish participation in the NATO campaign. NATO out of the Balkans!