April,
24, 2010April,
24, 2010Papandreou’s government pushed forward the appeal to the “EU-IMF support mechanism”. This action subjects Greece to the choices of the IMF and allows the IMF to enter the backyard of Europe, showing in the most profound way the big structural deficits of the monetary union, which came as a result of the neoliberal model that the conservative and social-democratic forces of Europe have commonly served in the last decades.
The technocrats of the IMF are already in our country and dictate the articles and the clauses of the new social security law proposal, to the Ministry of Employment. It is clear that, under the full responsibility of the government, the elaboration of strategic economic choices is assigned to a supranational directorate, which has no democratic legitimization.
The IMF is not a philanthropic institution. It dictates measures and “helps” governments, which state, from the start, their willingness to take the responsibility for the dissolution of the social security systems, the termination of collective agreements and the demolition of social and workers’ achievements.
Whatever the sickness might be, the IMF has but one remedy: Reduction of salaries and social rights. In any case, the basic condition for “support” by the IMF is the dismantling of social security systems, a process which has already been initiated in our country. We would like to underline the confirmation of the biggest part of our criticism on the way that the EU had been built; Our opposition to the content of the European Treaties that created the present neoliberal structure, which, under the present conditions of a deep economic crisis, reinforces the centrifugal tendencies and puts under question the cohesion of Europe as a whole. We would like to underline the major responsibilities of the directorate of the EU, which, in collaboration with Papandreou's government, puts forward a mixture of neoliberal policy, that demolishes the workers, pensioners, women's and youth rights.
The government has absolutely no democratic legitimacy to proceed with such agreements. It was elected six months ago, with a completely different program and does not enjoy social consent to take such measures. The only consent it enjoys is the one of the Union of Greek Industrialists (SEB), the big Media conglomerates, the ultra-neoliberal cycles inside the two bigger parties, and the extreme right-wing of Mr Karatzaferis (MP, President of LAOS party). The party of New Democracy (former right-wing government) also bares big responsibility, because, during their two terms in government, they decisively contributed to the creation of the present deficit and public debt. New Democracy and PASOK served and formulated the sociopolitical system after the fall of the military dictatorship in1974. They are responsible for the permanent productive deficit of the country. For the degradation and the privatization of the public sector. We should not underestimate the class aspect of today's deficits.
We are pushed to this choice by the dominant neoliberal cycles of the EU. It is a choice that serves Euro-Atlanticism. Their aim is to apply the dead-end strategy of monetarism without restrictions, a strategy that is unable to offer substantial answers concerning the global economic crisis. Their aim is to transform Greece into a guinea-pig, on which they will test the hardest economic and social policy in the history of Europe, so as to export this model to the rest European countries.
The people haven't expressed their opinion and neither has the Parliament. At the same time, Mr Papandreou does not even dare to organize meetings of the leading bodies of his own, governmental party.
All these are happening despite the fact that we are in front of a very crucial choice, which will change both the international orientation, and the internal balances in our country. The day after the intervention of the IMF in our interior, will signal a completely new reality, which will estrange Greece from any perspective of an economic and social outlet from today's crisis. In this sense, here rises a crucial issue of a democratic legitimacy of the governmental policies.
We demand the immediate appeal to the public verdict, for the disengagement from the EU-IMF mechanism and its neoliberal “know-how”.
This means the disengagement from a choice that will define the future of the country for decades and will initiate an unprecedented social regression, through measures like the dissolution of the social security system, the liberalization of lay-offs, the reduction of salaries and pensions.
We demand a referendum, in order to have a popular verdict concerning the interference of the IMF, through the form of the EU-IMF mechanism, to the internal issues of our country.
Against the criminal policy of the government, which leads the country to the total dominance of the IMF, through the mechanism that was constructed under the decision of the Eurogroup, in 25 March, and is already slandered by the speculators, Synaspismos proposes an alternative program to the Greek people, for an exit-strategy from the crisis.
Because the choice of social degradation is not a one-way choice. Another way exists. We propose to our society to follow this other way and fight, in order to demand it.
Everybody in struggle!
A precondition for this alternative way is to activate popular and social actors for the composition of a front of social and political forces, which will fight to raise a shield of social protection and solidarity. The contribution of the left forces, trade-unionist and social actors to the creation of such a front will be decisive. For this reason, we invite them to join our unitarian call.
An Immediate Alternative Program for a Progressive Exit from the Crisis
1. Disengagement from the EU-IMF mechanism of “support”. Renegotiation and demand for a direct loan from the ECB and the introduction of a euro-bond. Coordination and stable alliance with the countries of the European South, which face similar problems of debt and deficits. Demand for a change of the European Treaties. Immediate abolition of the Stability Pact and replacement of it with a Pact for Social Protection, guaranteed, decent employment and sustainable development.
2. Public social control of the financial system, in favor of public interest and real economy. A first step is the immediate intervention to the banking system, through the creation of a public pylon, together with the alternative administration of the support package.
3. Mid and long-term program for the productive re-composition of the Greek economy. With targeted public investments, for an alternative model of development, and with a special attention to the agricultural economy, renewable energy sources, sustainable tourism and new technologies. We fight for a different concept and function of the public sector.
4. Political demand, on an international level, for a partial abolition of the public debt and the optimization of the conditions of payment, under the framework of its complete restructure. The problem of the public debt is not only a Greek problem; in this sense, we demand a complete mechanism of solidarity for its confrontation under a European framework.
5. Creation of a shield of social protection. With a complex of immediate social interventions, which will aim at the reduction of employment and of new forms of poverty, together with the stimulation of development. The necessary immediate interventions should focus on the following issues:
Tax reform, against the diachronic injustices of our taxation system, which will enlarge the tax basis against tax-defaulters. Taxation of the church.
Immediate reduction of all military expenditure. Withdrawal of all campaigning Greek troops from all foreign soil.
Funding of the social security system and reinforcement of its public, re-distributive character, in contrast with the dismantling strategy that is today applied by the government.
Protection of the short, mid and log-term unemployed. Special programs of employment in the social and productive sector.
Immediate reform of the employment legislation, targeting at the limitation of lay-offs and the protection of jobs.
Reinforcement of the minimum wage. Introduction of a guaranteed minimum income and guaranteed access to public goods and basic services of public benefit.
The aforementioned minimum framework for a progressive exit-strategy includes proposals for the immediate confrontation of the crisis and the interception of the attack that the society and the labor forces are facing.
Synaspismos and SYRIZA need to develop informative actions and reinforce the resistance of our society. With our powerful participation to the struggles of the trade-unions and social actors. With our contribution to the formation of wider Committees of Struggle in neighborhoods and work places, against the measures of the government and their consequences. Our Party must express its solidarity in actions, through relevant initiatives, towards those who are struck by the crisis.
Taken as a fact that we are facing a structural crisis of capitalism, the struggle for an alternative, progressive exit-strategy must be linked to the fight for a radical change of the present balance of power, for the radical change of society and socialism.
Our alternative proposal must be clarified to the people, through consecutive, systematic and permanent interventions.
We must organize press conferences and public interventions of our MPs and members of the party, in the neighborhoods of Athens and the regions of the country. It is our duty to propose an alternative way and invite our society to fight and demand it.