The European Left Party will always remember Nelson Mandela as the symbol of the struggle for freedom, human emancipation, dignity and equality. He was – and remains – the symbol of the victory of a people against racist apartheid regime.

As left internationalist parties, members and observers of the ELP, have shared with Mandela a lot of struggles that have marked history. Many of our activists took part the international fight for his freedom and for the end of the apartheid, with the ANC, the South-African Communist party and the Cosatu. The victory of the South-African people was a victory for the all humanity.

Today, with deep emotion, we remember the man who said in the sixties: “The struggle is my life. I will continue to fight for freedom until the end of my days” and so he did. During 27 years of prison Nelson Mandela held the overwhelming enthusiasm in the firm belief that another world is possible.

We will, with the same belief, never give up the fight against xenophobic ideas and continue to promote peace, solidarity, social justice and democracy
in Europe.