150th Anniversary of Paris CommuneOn March 18, 1871, the citizens of Paris took the administration of their city into their own hands and build a republic according to socialist ideas.

The Paris Commune was born and so one of the first modern left-wing revolutions in the world. In barely two months, the Commune accomplished important work. The experience and legacy of the Commune have made their mark in the history of the labour movement.It was a revolution that put the social question at the core of the struggle.Many of the municipality’s goals and requirements are still relevant today and have not been met. Democracy, social progress, the separation of state and religion, education and culture for wage-earning workers and women’s rights. In particular, it is important to emphasize the high democratic standards of the municipality, which have given the people a voice and influence.The Paris Commune was ultimately defeated, but it served as a model to the present day and their goal, to found a “democratic and social republic”, still awaits its true realization.Heinz Bierbaum, President of the European Left