Packing my bags to go to Greece to support Syriza today. Im going to be tweeting @paulmurphyAAA, posting here and hopefully blogging somewhere! The possibility of a Left government in Europe is crucial for all of our struggles in Ireland and elsewhere in Europe. I have been to Greece previously as an MEP and have seen the humanitarian catastrophe created by austerity. Over 10% of the population are living in conditions of extreme material deprivation, unable to afford even the very basics of food, shelter or heating. A large portion of the 26% unemployed have lost access to social welfare benefits, while the ‘lucky’ ones receive a payment of €360 a month. Homelessness and suicide have rocketed. The central reason for this nightmare is the austerity imposed in order to pay unsustainable and odious debt. Thats why millions of people are hoping for a victory for Syriza on Sunday. The formation of a Left government will have huge implications, not just for people in Greece, but right across Europe. It can decisively breach the mantra that ‘There Is No Alternative’ to austerity. It will correctly place the question of unsustainable debt front and centre across Europe. It will raise hopes of people and will provoke a further radicalisation here in Ireland, particularly in the context of the massive anti-water charges movement whereby people have felt their own power and a significant shift leftwards has taken place. We should be under no illusion about what awaits a Left government that breaks from the austerity consensus. The Troika and the likes of Angela Merkel represent the major bankers and bondholders. If their interests are seriously challenged, they will respond to defend them – with scaremongering and worse. Just as the unelected European Central Bank and others have previously intervened to replace elected governments with bankers’ governments in both Greece and Italy, and have threatened other governments including the Irish government, these people have no problem ignoring the democratic wishes of people. They will have to be met by a strong response from the Greek working class movement from below to refuse to pay the debt and break from the logic of capitalism. Greek workers will also need a strong movement in Ireland and across Europe to stand in solidarity with them, against any punishment of the Greek people for daring to break with austerity and for socialist change right across Europe
Posted on: Sat, 24 Jan 2015 08:58:02 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015