Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

Tsipras’ capitulation and the general strike against the agreement

Despite the resounding NO at the referendum last July 5, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras accepted the demands made by the Troika. A new austerity package is on the way. Syriza has ignored the people’s mandate. The call for a general strike by the public workers federation will pose the first challenge to the government.

Celeste Murillo

July 14, 2015
Facebook Twitter Share

Syriza took office last January, delivering promises of an end to the memoranda signed by its predecessors of PASOK and New Democracy, and the Troika. The austerity plans led to a real economic destruction, with an unemployment rate of 27% –up to 60% within the youth, and the debt reaching 180 % of the GDP.

Far from the promised “anti-austerity government”, Syriza became the “third memorandum” government, accepting one by one the demands of the European Union. The acceptance of harsh conditions to avoid the “Grexit” came after trusting in a Troika that is “willing to negotiate.”

This week Tsipras will seek Parliamentary support to approve the austerity plan (even harsher than the one rejected last June). The Troika is not only asking for tough measures but is also setting an agenda for the Greek Parliament.

A new general strike

The public sector union federation ADEDY has called for a general strike against the new memorandum on the same day of the Congressional vote. This strike will be the first one held by ADEDY since Tsipras took office, but it won’t be the first strike against the Syriza government. At the end of May, doctors and health workers shut down the public hospitals demanding more staff and more money for the public health care system.

According to the ADEDY’s statement, “We are calling for a 24 hour strike at the same time that the Congress will be voting for the unpopular agreement; we are calling a rally at 7 pm at Syntagma Square.”

During the last five years, the Greek working class took part in 33 general strikes against Pasok and the New Democracy governments. This 24-hour strike represents the first one against Trispras’ government and its agreement with the creditors. The general strike will come a week after the resounding victory of the NO vote in the referendum.

Sources:

La capitulación de Tsipras y el fin de una ilusión

Huelga de trabajadores públicos contra el acuerdo de Tsipras y la Troika

Facebook Twitter Share

Celeste Murillo

Celeste is a leader of the Socialist Workers' Party (PTS) and a founder of the women's group Pan y Rosas (Bread and Roses) in Argentina. She is a host of the radio program El Círculo Rojo where she focusses on culture and gender.

Twitter

Europe

Robert Habeck Wrote a Play Praising a Right-Wing Mass Murderer

Germany's Green vice chancellor strikes many as an idealist who has been struggling with the tough realities of government. Yet before he was a national politician, he wrote a play that opens a window into a dark soul.

Nathaniel Flakin

December 1, 2023

Fact Check: Did German Leftists Try to Bomb West Berlin’s Jewish Community Center in 1969?

Answer: No. The bombing was undertaken by West Germany’s domestic secret service, originally founded by Nazis.

Nathaniel Flakin

November 29, 2023
Tombstones in Germany defaced with Swasticas.

“Stop Thief!” The German State Attacks Migrants to Distract from Its Own Antisemitism

German politicians claim that antisemitism is an “imported problem.” Even a cursory look at the facts, however, shows that anti-Jewish hatred is not caused by pro-Palestinian protests. No, the source is German capitalism.

Nathaniel Flakin

November 21, 2023

Competing Rallies at Berlin’s Free University

On successive Fridays, there was a pro-Palestinian and a pro-Israeli rally at the Free University. One was dominated by international students, including many Jews and Palestinians, calling for solidarity — the other was dominated by German politicians spewing racism. Guess which was which.

Nathaniel Flakin

November 13, 2023

MOST RECENT

All That's Left, the podcast from Left Voice.

#AllThatsLeftPod: What the Historic UAW Victory Means for the Working Class

In this episode of the podcast, we discuss the historic UAW victory, its shortcomings, and the tasks for the future.

Left Voice

December 5, 2023

The New Hollywood McCarthyism Emerging Around Palestine

Over the past week, a new Hollywood McCarthyism has emerged: multiple people in Hollywood have jobs and representation over their support of Palestine. We must denounce and fight these attacks which weaken the movement and scare supporters into silence.

Sybil Davis

December 3, 2023
A UAW sign is held next to a "Free Palestine" sign

The UAW Has Called for a Ceasefire. It’s Time for All of Labor to Stand Up.

The UAW International union has joined calls for a ceasefire and is exploring how to divest from Israel. This is a step which should inspire union activists to take up the fight to bring their union into the fight against Israel's attack on Gaza and the struggle against imperialism.

Rose Lemlich

December 2, 2023

The World Kissinger Built Must Die Too

Henry Kissinger died at 100 years old. But his legacy remains in the brutal world system he built and the future generations of imperialist ghouls he inspired. They all must go.

Samuel Karlin

November 30, 2023