12 000 people took the streets of Helsinki on 22 August, under the slogan “Joukkovoima” (Peoples power - Fuerza colectiva) against government austerity measures .
Edited by Leo Panitch and Greg Albo.– Today the left faces new challenges from political forces amassing on the radical right. The 52nd volume of the Socialist Register presents a serious calibration and a careful political mapping of these forces. It addresses pivotal questions on the reordering of the new right.
The Greek government has just barely been able to avert the Grexit, i.e. having to leave the euro, by agreeing to enter into negotiations on a third bailout with other euro countries at the Euro Summit on the night of 13 July.
“Under adverse conditions and with a difficult balance of forces within Europe and the world, we tried to assert the point of view of a people and the possibility of an alternative path. Ultimately, even if the powerful were able to impose their will, what remains is the absolute confirmation on the international level that austerity is a dead end. This process has established a completely new landscape in Europe.”
The negotiations between Greece and its lenders on a third “financial assistance package” have started on 27 July.
European institutions’ condition to the release of these funds was the adoption by the Greek parliament of two packages of measures – which occurred on 16 and 23 July.
But it wasn’t...
In the midst of riots, fires, and demonstrations, Global Center for Advanced Studies (GCAS) convened its first world conference in Athens, Greece from 16 to 19 July. One conference participant said, “Athens is literally burning, my eyes still sting from the police’s tear-gas, and I will be giving my talk in just a few minutes. This is what a conference on democracy should be.”
Alexis Tsipras won the battle on a question of principle – the need for a new Europe – even if he lost the war that ensued. What are the implications for the Greek left and for Europe?
After five months of negotiations conducted in an authoritarian and arrogant manner, 18 heads of state and government of the Euro-group under the leadership of Germany’s finance minister, have forced an agreement on Greece’s democratically elected government that contradicts SYRIZA’s electoral programme and negates the results of the July 5 referendum.
The 10th annual Summer University of the Party of the European Left in cooperation with transform! europe took place in Litoměřice, Czech Republic, 8-12 July. It was hostesd by KSČM (Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia), SDS (Party of Democratoc Socialism) and SPED (Society For European Dialogue). Find here the "Appeal of Litoměřice" and reports by the EL on the three main plenaries.
We have been fighting hard for six months now, and we fought until the end to achieve the best possible outcome, an agreement that will enable the country to get back on its feet, and for the Greek people to be able to continue to fight.
Suppose you consider Tsipras an incompetent twerp. Suppose you dearly want to see Syriza out of power. Suppose, even, that you welcome the prospect of pushing those annoying Greeks out of the euro.
The Greek Dilemma and Us. Nine provisional considerations after both the popular Oxi and Syriza’s Yes to the Memorandum. This is being written after the vote in the Greek parliament and before the final decision of the Eurogroup. At the moment, everything is open, and we are certain of only a couple of things. Almost everything can change, but some things will remain true.
Dear friends, Europe must respect the mandate of Greece. On Sunday 12th the future of whole Europe will be decided.
Last week the OXI vote demonstrated the strong will of the Greek people to reject austerity and reclaim democracy, which is a precondition for the future of our Europe.
Therefore we...
Five leading economists – Thomas Piketty, Jeffrey Sachs, Heiner Flassbeck, Dani Rodrik and Simon Wren-Lewis – warn the German chancellor, “History will remember you for your actions this week.”
The European Trade Union Confederation issued an important open letter, considering the historical dimension in the confrontation between the European institutions and the Greek government.
On 26 June, Alexis Tsipras announced a referendum in Greece for 5 July. The people of Greece were called to decide on their future. The question, even though frequently falsely cited, was whether the Greek people agreed to the counter-proposal made by the lenders. It demanded more austerity...
Through its campaigning work, transform! seeks to gather trade unions’ statements in solidarity with Greece, and to circulate them as great an extent as possible.