Revolting Europe
austerity
What’s the chance of a progressive government in Lisbon?
Last Sunday 4 October Passos Coelho’s right-wing coalition won the most votes in general elections in Portugal but failed to win a majority in parliament. Since then the man who’s imposed on Portugal some of the harshest austerity measures in Europe has been trying win the backing of the opposition Socialists. If the Socialists refuse … Continue reading
Spanish unions, opposition slam ‘barbaric’ IMF recommendations for ‘reform’
The IMF has urged Spain to continue its neo-liberal reforms, in an indication of concern that elections in the fall could deliver a more progressive government than the current regime of Mariano Rajoy. It is calling for the part-privatisation of health and education, through ‘co-payments’ for services. It also wants to see further deregulation of … Continue reading
The two scenarios now facing Greece
By Sergio Cesaratto The victory of ‘no’ opens two scenarios. The most likely is the further effort by the Syriza-led government to reach a new agreement with the Troika, but it is not clear why it should be given something that had not been given before. The financial upheaval of recent days may be such as … Continue reading
Greece, Europe and sovereignty
What image will remain in the European Union in the wake of the Greek crisis? Indeed, whatever the outcome of this crisis, whether it results in a Greek default and a possible exit from the euro zone, or a capitulation of the Greek government, the consequences of this crisis on the EU and its image … Continue reading
Can we hold the Troika to account for human rights violations?
Not only have the Troika’s austerity policies been an abject failure but in inflicting suffering on millions of people, the three headed beast of the EU-ECB-IMF has severely violated human rights that are recognized by the EU itself. But can the charges stick, asks Luciano Galliano “The governance of the crises in the European Union has led to massive violations … Continue reading
Are French workers paid too much?
France’s jobs market is too ‘rigid’ and must be reformed to boost growth and employment, Brussels and international agencies like the OECD* endlessly repeat, and hawkish PM Valls has been only too happy to oblige. But new evidence challenges this assertion, shows French economist Arnaud Parienty. The “structural reforms” that Brussels asks France mainly consist … Continue reading
France’s anti-austerity movement has life in it yet
Union-led protests across France show the country’s anti austerity movement is alive and kicking, despite the betrayals of the Socialist government and the rise of the Right, argues Jean Paul Piérot of L’Humanite newspaper. In the aftermath of departmental elections, the people seemed depressed, cowed. The popular anti-austerity movement, which in recent months has made … Continue reading
The significance of Tsipras’ visit to Moscow
By Jacques Sapir Alexis Tsipras, the new Prime Minister of Greece will be in Moscow April 8. The following day, Greece must make a payment to the International Monetary Fund. The statements by Greece’s Minister of Finance does are unambiguous: Greece will honour its debts. [1] But on April 14, the Greek government must simultaneously … Continue reading
Andalusia’s elections analysed
By Juan Torres López* The results of the Andalusian elections on Sunday 22 March have some features and trends that seem significant and perhaps decisive not only on what happens in Andalusia, but throughout Spain in the future. First, they confirm what has always seemed essential to understand what is happening in Spain’s most populous … Continue reading
Euro, Europe and peace
One of the most well used arguments to criticize anything that directly or indirectly relates to a dissolution of the Euro (be it Grexit or other assumptions) is that this would significantly weaken the European Union or cause its dissolution. In saying this, those who defend this argument move seamlessly from an analytical finding (a … Continue reading
Cyprus has caught the Greek disease
While the President of Cyprus visits Moscow to negotiate with Putin, the leftist opposition calls for support for a Syriza-style anti-austerity policy, says Dimitri Deliolanes In late February, while in Ukraine the truce was imposed with difficulty and in Washington there was talk of new sanctions, the President of Cyprus Nikos Anastasiades made a three-day trip … Continue reading
Spain’s jobs crisis will endure as long as we are in the euro
By Juan Torres López A crucial question for the Spanish economy is why we suffer a level of unemployment that is much higher than the rest of the economies that surround us. Obviously, it is a question with no simple unequivocal answer, for surely there are many factors that make our unemployment so high and … Continue reading
Renzi one year on: austerity still rules Italy
One year after PM Renzi came to power and three governments since Berlusconi, Italy is still depressed, thanks to unending austerity programmes, finds Leopoldo Nascia* Seven years of crisis and three and half years of political shocks the have brought, in succession, the governments Mario Monti, Enrico Letta and Matteo Renzi, have failed to pull … Continue reading
The EU agreement, structural reforms and the Syriza effect abroad: Inside View
Syriza’s Yiannis Bournous* in interview What assessment do you make of Friday’s agreement with the Eurogroup? The document adopted at the Eurogroup gives Greece an extra four months to present a developed plan of structural reforms. The document gives us breathing space, both in terms of time and economic conditions. Even if some of the … Continue reading
The Eurogroup-Greece Agreement
By Jacques Sapir The agreement reached Friday, February 20th between Greece and the Eurogroup has led to conflicting commentary. It is necessary, in order to understand this agreement, and to analyze it, to put it into context, both in the short and in the long term. This agreement was intended to prevent an immediate crisis, … Continue reading
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