******************** POSTING RULES & NOTES ******************** #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. *****************************************************************
Anti-austerity protests in Greece as bank shutdown bites by Michele Kambas and Lefteris Papadimas Reuters, June 30 <http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/06/30/uk-eurozone-greece-idUKKBN0P40FR20150630> ATHENS - Tens of thousands of Greeks rallied on Monday to back their leftwing government's rejection of a tough international bailout after a clash with foreign lenders pushed Greece close to financial chaos and forced a shutdown of its banking system. With a popular referendum on the bailout planned for Sunday, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras put his own position on the line, saying he would respect the result of the vote but would not lead a government to administer "austerity in perpetuity." "If the Greek people want to have a humiliated prime minister, there are a lot of them out there. It won't be me," he said in an interview on Greek state television as one of the biggest rallies seen in Athens in years was taking place. The show of defiance came at the end of a day that started with stunned Greeks waking up to face shuttered banks, long supermarket lines and overwhelming uncertainty over Greece's future in the euro zone. . . . The referendum poses a simple question: "Should the proposal which was submitted by the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund at the Eurogroup of June 25, 2015, which consists of two parts that together constitute their comprehensive proposal, be accepted?" The "No" box appears as the first option, above the "Yes" box. The government says a "No" will strengthen its hand at the negotiating table, though other European leaders say it will instead push Greece out of the euro. No public opinion polls were available, but the Economist Intelligence Unit said a "No" vote was more likely, raising the probability of Greece leaving the euro zone to 60 percent. Thousands Demonstrate Against Greece’s Deal with Creditors by Philip Chrysopoulos The Greek Reporter, June 30 <http://greece.greekreporter.com/2015/06/30/thousands-demonstrate-against-greeces-deal-with-creditors> Thousands of Greeks rallied on Monday evening at Syntagma Square in downtown Athens to protest against the proposed deal by Greece’s creditors. Most protesters said they are against “the blackmailing of the European Union and the International Monetary Fund.” The rally was organized by SYRIZA, extreme leftist parties ANDARSYA and EPAM [ANTARSYA, and PAME?], as well as other leftist unions and factions. The placards were bearing slogans like “Dignity, democracy and life,” “No to new Memoranda,” “No to austerity,” “Debt writeoff,” “Our lives belong to us.” Protesters were also shouting that Greeks should vote “no” on Sunday’s referendum. Commenting on the rally with a tweet, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, who was giving an interview to state broadcaster ERT, said people’s reaction gives him strength. “On my way to @ErtSocial, the people’s grand rally on Syntagma square, for the proud ‘No’, gives us strength,” he tweeted. SYRIZA’s left platform leader, Productive Reconstruction, Environment and Energy Minister Panagiotis Lafazanis, participated at the rally saying that the “No” crowd will be present on Sunday’s referendum and will shout “no” to agreements that feel like robbery. 'No to Austerity': Tens of Thousands Back Syriza at Rally in Athens 'We believe that this ultimatum to the Greek people and democracy should be rejected,' write international academics by Deirdre Fulton, staff writer Common Dreams, June 29 <http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/06/29/no-austerity-tens-thousands-back-syriza-rally-athens> Tens of thousands gathered in Athens on Monday night, adding their voices to the ranks of the Syriza government officials and international observers who are urging Greek citizens to act boldly and reject the terms of an aid deal offered by Greece's austerity-loving international creditors. While numerous governments and financial institutions warned Monday that the referendum vote could determine whether or not Greece stays in the Eurozone, other critical implications loom. A 'No' vote would be a clear rejection of austerity measures as well as other regressive and punitive policies being foisted on Greece by the so-called Troika. On the other hand, notes Reuters, "a 'Yes' vote would pile pressure on Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to resign—given his adamant resistance to opening the door to new elections and possibly a return to the negotiating table with creditors." In fact, getting Tsipras out of the way appears to be a major goal of the European leaders and lenders, economist Joseph Stiglitz wrote on Monday. "After all, it is extremely inconvenient to have in Greece a government that is so opposed to the types of policies that have done so much to increase inequality in so many advanced countries, and that is so committed to curbing the unbridled power of wealth," Stiglitz argued. "They seem to believe that they can eventually bring down the Greek government by bullying it into accepting an agreement that contravenes its mandate." In an interview on Monday with Greece's ERT TV, Tsipras said a robust 'No' vote would give the Syriza-led government a mandate and leverage to seek a better deal. "We're asking you to reject it with all our strength," he said. Those who took to the streets in Athens on Monday night were largely in the anti-austerity camp. According to Reuters, "at least 20,000 defiant supporters of Alexis Tsipras' left-wing government packed the main avenue in front of parliament," many carrying banners that declared simply "No!" while others read, "Our lives do not belong to the lenders" and "Don't back down". Their calls were supported on Monday by a letter penned by a number of international academics, including former Archibishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, Slavoj Zizek, and Judith Butler, expressing solidarity with those who would vote 'No' in the referendum. Published at the Guardian, it read: Over the past five years, the EU and the IMF have imposed unprecedented austerity on Greece. It has failed badly. The economy has shrunk by 26%, unemployment has risen to 27%, youth unemployment to 60% and, the debt-to-GDP ratio jumped from 120% to 180%. The economic catastrophe has led to a humanitarian crisis, with more than 3 million people on or below the poverty line. Against this background, the Greek people elected the Syriza-led government on 25 January with a clear mandate to put an end to austerity. In the ensuing negotiations, the government made it clear that the future of Greece is in the Eurozone and the EU. The lenders, however, insisted on the continuation of their failed recipe, refused to discuss a write down of the debt – which the IMF is on record as considering unviable – and finally, on 26 June, issued an ultimatum to Greece by means of a non-negotiable package that would entrench austerity. This was followed by a suspension of liquidity to the Greek banks and the imposition of capital controls. In this situation, the government has asked the Greek people to decide the future of the country in a referendum to be held next Sunday. We believe that this ultimatum to the Greek people and democracy should be rejected. The Greek referendum gives the European Union a chance to restate its commitment to the values of the enlightenment – equality, justice, solidarity – and to the principles of democracy on which its legitimacy rests. The place where democracy was born gives Europe the opportunity to recommit to its ideals in the 21st century. Meanwhile, solidarity actions took place in London and elsewhere, with Andrew Burgin from the UK's Greece Solidarity Campaign telling London 24: "We are coming together today to stand with the people of Greece and say: no to austerity, yes to democracy." Europe's Populists Rally To Greece's Side by Daniel Marans Huffington Post, 6/29 <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/29/europe-populism-greece-solidarity_n_7692256.html> Populist parties in Spain, Ireland and other austerity-stricken European countries are flocking to support the Greek government’s defiance of its creditors, and to encourage Greek citizens to vote against the creditors’ bailout proposal in a July 5 referendum. Spain’s ascendant left-populist party Podemos called for a solidarity rally with Greece’s Syriza-led government, drawing hundreds of attendees in Madrid on Saturday, the Wall Street Journal reported. Francisco Ramon, an unemployed technology worker, told the Wall Street Journal the outcome of Greece’s struggle with its creditors could affect Spain’s ability to advance its own economic prospects. “What’s happening in Athens now is decisive not only for Greece, but also for Spain and for all of Europe,” Ramon said. Syriza’s decision to call a referendum vote on the creditors’ proposal also elicited the endorsements of Gerry Adams, the leader of Ireland’s left-wing opposition party Sinn Fein; Italy’s contrarian comedian-turned-politician Beppe Grillo; and other critics of eurozone austerity policies. . . . But nowhere do expressions of solidarity with Syriza resonate as much as in Spain, where Podemos is seen as a credible threat to the ruling conservative government. While Spain’s austerity policies have won it plaudits from eurozone leaders, they have proven less popular at home. Podemos has taken advantage of dissatisfaction with the country’s high unemployment rate to win mayoral races in Barcelona and Madrid, Spain’s two largest cities [I believe Podemos was supporting independent radicals, d]. The two wins could portend a victory in general elections later this year. Analysts believe Spain’s ruling conservatives have taken a hardline approach in negotiations with Greece at least in part out of fears that a bailout deal that is too accommodating for Greece will be a boon to Podemos at the polls. Podemos’ leader Pablo Iglesias told the Wall Street Journal in an interview earlier this month that consequently, Podemos’ rise has hurt Syriza in negotiations. “Since Podemos has existed, defeating the government of Greece has been converted into another instrument for trying to pressure us,” Iglesias said. On Saturday, Greece’s Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras called for a June 5 referendum on Greece’s creditors’ latest bailout proposal, after dismissing the offer as an “ultimatum that insults the Greek people.” The support from fellow left-wing groups in other countries comes amid mounting pressure on Greece from eurozone officials and financial institutions after the announcement of the referendum. The European Central Bank halted its emergency lending to Greek banks, prompting the Greek government to limit bank withdrawals to prevent banks from running out of cash -- a procedure known as imposing “capital controls.” . . . Europe attacking SYRIZA to block Spain's Podemos, says Greek minister I Kathimerini, Athens, June 30 (AFP) <http://www.ekathimerini.com/198708/article/ekathimerini/news/europe-attacking-syriza-to-block-spains-podemos-says-greek-minister> European leaders want to "sink" Greece's ruling SYRIZA party to block the rise of other far-left anti-austerity parties like its ally Podemos in Spain, Greece's Labor Minister Panos Skourletis said Tuesday. European leaders "fear the rise of forces like Podemos and they want to take the wind out of their sails through any means possible," he said in an interview published in Spanish newspaper El Mundo. "And the way to do it is to sink us, so that SYRIZA in Greece can't be an example for other European nations in a similar situation," he added. Skourletis said European Commission head Jean Claude Juncker's call for Greeks to vote "yes" in a referendum on bailout proposals next Sunday was a "provocation". The Greek government backs a "no" vote. "Today they interfere in the interior affairs of Greece, tomorrow they will do it in Spain and Italy," said Skourletis, a heavyweight in Greece's SYRIZA government which has been in office since January. Podemos, which came in third in regional elections last month, has called Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tspiras "exemplary" for having rejected the "blackmail" of the country's international creditors. The Latest: Hundreds in London Rally for Unity With Greece by The Associated Press New York Times, June 29 <http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/06/29/world/europe/ap-eu-greece-bailout-the-latest.html> 11:35 p.m. Hundreds of people have rallied in London to show solidarity with Greece and argue that the country's debt should be forgiven. Protesters in Trafalgar Square held up letters spelling "Drop Greece's Debt" and included left-wing lawmakers, trade unionist activists and Greeks worried about the crisis in their homeland. "I feel really sorry for the changes that have been made over the past six years, and I don't think the programs of the IMF will make it any better," said Chatzikyriakiclis Pencles, a 24-year-old teacher. Green Party legislator Caroline Lucas called for an end to austerity and said the Greek crisis was a human-made disaster "deliberately designed behind closed doors in Brussels." 11:10 p.m. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras insisted late Monday that a "No" vote victory in a referendum would strengthen Athens' negotiations with creditors. Tspiras defied warnings by European leaders that Greece faced an eventual exit from the euro unless voters backed the proposed bailout deal. "I expect them to respect this democratic process, not to kill democracy in its birthplace," Tsipras said on state television in a live interview. 9:35 p.m. Waving Greek flags and chanting "take the bailout and go!" thousands of pro-government protesters gathered outside parliament late Monday to back Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras' call to oppose a proposed compromise with creditors in a referendum. Police said 13,000 people attended the rally in Athens' main Syntagma — the largest referendum rally so far— in a generally good natured protest joined by casually-dressed cabinet ministers. "The government tried too hard to get this agreement. But the creditors kept asking for more. I don't know what else we are supposed to do," said pensioner Satroula Noutsou, who joined a rowdy group of protesters, singing slogans as one demonstrator banged a drum. "Tsipras is one of us, a regular person. And there are some people who don't like that." No to austerity in Greece – support the protests rs21, June 29 <http://rs21.org.uk/2015/06/29/no-to-austerity-in-greece-support-the-protests> Statement by rs21 on the situation in Greece. The Greek government has called a referendum next Sunday: the Greek people will be able to vote yes or no to the latest round of austerity proposed by Greece’s international creditors. Austerity has been a disaster for Greece. 1 in 4 people are unemployed. Half of people under 25 are unemployed. In a million households the only income is a state pension – and pensions have been cut by nearly half. A social crisis on this scale in peacetime is unparalleled in Europe since the Second World War. The Greek government has a democratic mandate to resist the IMF, the European Central Bank and the Eurozone. They are right to call the referendum and to call for a No vote. Greece’s creditors aren’t negotiating in good faith, and it’s a serious mistake to think that they can be treated with anything but complete mistrust. They have repeatedly shown that their main objective is to humiliate the Greek government, and clearly have nothing but contempt for its democratically-elected leaders. Their goal is political – to show that resistance to austerity cannot succeed, and to send a message to any other country that might think of challenging them in future. They demand more privatisation, more poverty and more austerity. We stand in solidarity with the working people of Greece as they fight to defend their living standards, public services and society against this neoliberal onslaught. We call on everyone to join the movement in solidarity with them. London Protest, 6pm, Monday 29 June Trafalgar Square Called by Greece Solidarity Campaign Birmingham Protest, 6pm, Monday 29 June Victoria Square Speakers from Left Unity, National Campaign against Fees and Cuts Edinburgh Protest, noon, Saturday 4 July European Commission in Scotland, 9 Alva St Called by Syriza Scotland _________________________________________________________ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
