Dear readers,

This newsletter looks at recent and upcoming elections in several European countries and the implications and prospects for the left in Europe.

First of all, congratulations to our comrades and friends of the Communist Party of Austria and the Young Left who, together as the KPÖ Plus electoral alliance, won 11.7% of the vote in the Salzburg state elections last Sunday and won 4 seats in the Salzburg state parliament. Even more remarkable is the result in the capital, Salzburg City, where the KPÖ Plus came second behind the Conservatives with 21.8% of the vote, relegating the far right to third place! It is the first time since 1949 that Communists will sit in the Salzburg Landtag! A detailed analysis of the consequences of the election result for the Austrian as well as the European left will be published on our website in the coming days.

Another positive development for the left in Europe is the formation of a new left party in Albania. Lëvizja BASHKË - Movement TOGETHER - aims to build a new Albanian left, rooted in the working class and fighting for social justice together with the trade unions, and will take part in next month's local elections in Tirana.

Parliamentary elections were recently held in the Netherlands, Bulgaria and Finland. See below for analysis of the heated campaigns, interpretation of the tight results and the possible coalition alliances.

In less than a month, Turkey and Greece will also hold parliamentary (and in Turkey also presidential) elections. The stakes are high in both elections and their outcome will be crucial for the European left.

These are the main topics of this month's newsletter, complemented by analyses of the struggles of the Czech left and the major challenges facing the new government in Brazil in its first 100 days in office.

In addition to engaging analysis and commentary on these topics, this newsletter also contains our latest publications and information on thematic events organised by transform! europe and our network.

We wish you interesting reading!
Štefica Gazibara, web editor for transform! europe