Notes from the front

Greece confrontation moves closer – Syriza hasn’t blinked

The confrontation between the anti-austerity Syriza government in Greece and Germany – which stands behind the decisions of the financial troika of the European Commission, IMF and European Central Bank – is shaping up for a denouement as early as the end of this month. Greece’s current bailout programme is due for renewal on 28 February.

Syriza’s victory continues to generate positive shock waves

The positive effects of the Syriza victory continue to be felt nationally and internationally. The new Syriza government has moved rapidly to make good its election pledges to roll back austerity.

Step up solidarity with Syriza

Syriza’s victory in Sunday’s elections is the first time there has been an advance of the left in Europe on such a scale since Portugal in the 1970s.

After France: Tories play the Islamophobia card

Tory Communities’ Secretary Eric Pickles’ recent letter urging Muslims to explain how Islam ‘can be part of British identity’ has fanned the flames of bigotry and has nothing remotely to do with combating terrorism.

SYRIZA retains poll lead despite co-ordinated opposition campaign

SYRIZA has remained at the head of Greek opinion polls as the 25 January election moves closer, despite a concerted campaign by domestic and international representatives of big business to drive down its support. SYRIZA’s opinion poll lead has varied from 3 per cent to 8 per cent throughout this calendar year with no sign so far of it falling. 
Domestically within Greece the main tactic of the anti-SYRIZA campaign is to attack SYRIZA for ‘extremism’, while attempting to pretend that they are also anti-austerity but more ‘realistic’ and moderate than the leftist poll leader. This includes former Prime Minster Samaras and his right-wing New Democracy Party which now tries to pose as anti-austerity, as well as various centrist parties who claim the same mantle. This is failing miserably.

Victory to SYRIZA – Strike a blow against austerity

The snap Greek general election on 25th January poses the possibility that an explicitly anti-austerity political party may top the polls in a European election for the first time since the imposition of austerity across Europe in the wake of the 2007-8 financial crisis.