GUE/NGL MEPs show solidarity with people of Greece

 This is funded by the European United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL)

BY NIKOLAOS CHOUNTIS Greek MEP with the European United Left/ Nordic Green Left Group in the European Parliament

MEPs from the European United Left / Nordic Green Left group have been to Greece to meet and show solidarity with representatives of social movements, workers’ organisations, civil society and political parties opposing the harsh austerity measures being forced on Greek people. The delegation comes following the conclusion of the latest ‘bail-out’ for Greece at the last Eurogroup meeting.

As a group, we have continuously emphasised that austerity is pushing the Greek economy deeper into crisis with the resulting upsurge in unemployment and poverty creating disastrous consequences for millions of people. The aggravation of the consequences of failed Troika policies have slashed GDP not only in Greece but in other countries such as Italy, Spain, Ireland and Portugal, with the poorest bearing the brunt of the Troika’s demands as minimum wages are cut and ever more austerity demanded.

Moreover, the outrageous situation whereby Greece has been placed under the full control of the IMF, ECB and European Commission is an utter insult to the principles of democracy. The discipline, surveillance, sanctions and punishments being implemented are aimed at ordinary citizens, not the financial sector that has caused this mess. The sad and glaring truth is that the Greek Government doesn’t represent the Greek people, with the quantity of tear gas being fired in Syntagma square these days standing as a grotesque testament to this.

This cannot continue. In our work in the European Parliament we have set out alternatives to imposing extreme austerity and trampling democracy. Programmes to stimulate sustainable growth and employment; investment in education, research and training; a fair taxation system and a tax on financial transactions are just some of our proposals.

The catastrophic results of European policy require a root and branch change of direction. Instead of serving the international financial markets and opportunists speculating on government bonds, economic and social policy should be in the interests of the people — this is the message I and my colleagues wish to reiterate in Athens. As struggling families, workers, young people and all those speaking out against the demolition of their democracy and livelihoods know, there is — and there must be — another way.

BAIRBRE DE BRÚN MEP is a member of the GUE/NGL Group in the European Parliament