Greeks win referendum on austerity
Unite & Fight | 01.11.2011 09:52 | Public sector cuts | Workers' Movements
The Greek government has announced that the £86bn bailout package recently agreed by EU leaders will have to be accepted by the Greek public via a referendum. After years of bitter war between the ruling class and the working class that has seen general strikes, riots, economic blockades and grannies bricking cops, the Greeks have won a huge victory. This article argues against the predictable backlash from the "voting only encourages them" brigade.
Make no mistake, this is no pacifying government handout and it is no pity gesture. It is the mark of victory. Throughout the length of this crisis, the Greek government has done its level best to ignore the ever-rising dissent against the government agenda. It is clear that, by now, well over half the country oppose austerity. Governments do not grant referendums that seem almost certain to block their chosen path of action unless they're petrified.
In fact, what has happened is this: the ruling class have weighed their desire for control against their fear of the masses, and for the first time since this austerity crisis began, their fear is the greater force. Every few days there's another strike, another blockade, another cop on fire. The government has lost control of the streets. Action against austerity is both economically and physically threatening to the ruling class.
The scale of this victory can be seen in the thermometers of the business world, the market indexes. UK, German, French, Japanese and Chinese markets all plummeted with the shock announcement last night. Hopes of reaching an austerity deal that will see inordinate sums of public money diverted to the Greek government, on the condition that the government doesn't spend a penny on the people hardest hit by recession, are fading fast. This author doesn't greet falling markets with joy, but it is a clear sign of the massive spanner the Greek people have forced into the workings of neoliberal capitalism.
A referendum is a vote, which as most of us know is a dirty word for anarchos and the like. But this is an entirely different kettle of fish, because this time:
1. It's not a hollow poll between two equally corrupt parties or politicians. It's a chance for the Greek people to make the brave choice to defy their masters at home and abroad, and put people before economic systems.
2. It's not pointless. Obviously this is a referendum on one bailout package, not on austerity as a whole, but this is a referendum that will at least kill off that one bailout package, and in all likelihood will also kill off a murderous government, strengthen the anti-austerity movement and possibly begin to reverse the damage already being done by austerity.
3. It's not a tool for stagnation and apathy, as general elections have become as suffrage victories failed to develop into next-stage empowerment campaigns. It's a right - won, as they all are, with pain, suffering and sacrifice. And the people voting will be the people who have felt the pain, experienced the suffering and made the sacrifices. They've demanded the ruling class stop, they've taken on the state, and now they have a chance to force the matter. We're on the verge on a HUGE victory!
4. It's not dull. The passion will there, because the issue is current, the agenda has been set by the people and it's clear how the result of this vote will clearly affect the futures of everyone in Greece (and even around the world).
5. It's likely to work. Polls, interviews and the view from the streets suggests the anti-austerity feeling in Greece is both more widespread and stronger than in UK. It's hard to get a picture from so far away, but it doesn't seem possible that a free, fair vote on a non-leading question in Greece right now would back the austerity programme. Unless the government starts playing some very dirty games (which it probably will) this will be the end of this bailout package in Greece. And given the current resolve of the Greek people, it's hard to imagine they'd be fobbed off by a watered down package or repeat votes.
6. It's potent on an international level. We've only had one thing that could be described as a vote on austerity, and no one voted for what we've got. One European government granting a referendum on an austerity issue could be the start of something really big. If nothing else it heaps pressure onto the tory scum to realise that the working classes are rising up in solidarity around the world, winning victories, and scaring the shit out of the agents of austerity. It makes even clearer to everyone in this country all the more public-empowering options the government has than the course it is taking.
This shock referendum is a huge victory for the working class worldwide.
SOLIDARITY WITH GREECE!
In fact, what has happened is this: the ruling class have weighed their desire for control against their fear of the masses, and for the first time since this austerity crisis began, their fear is the greater force. Every few days there's another strike, another blockade, another cop on fire. The government has lost control of the streets. Action against austerity is both economically and physically threatening to the ruling class.
The scale of this victory can be seen in the thermometers of the business world, the market indexes. UK, German, French, Japanese and Chinese markets all plummeted with the shock announcement last night. Hopes of reaching an austerity deal that will see inordinate sums of public money diverted to the Greek government, on the condition that the government doesn't spend a penny on the people hardest hit by recession, are fading fast. This author doesn't greet falling markets with joy, but it is a clear sign of the massive spanner the Greek people have forced into the workings of neoliberal capitalism.
A referendum is a vote, which as most of us know is a dirty word for anarchos and the like. But this is an entirely different kettle of fish, because this time:
1. It's not a hollow poll between two equally corrupt parties or politicians. It's a chance for the Greek people to make the brave choice to defy their masters at home and abroad, and put people before economic systems.
2. It's not pointless. Obviously this is a referendum on one bailout package, not on austerity as a whole, but this is a referendum that will at least kill off that one bailout package, and in all likelihood will also kill off a murderous government, strengthen the anti-austerity movement and possibly begin to reverse the damage already being done by austerity.
3. It's not a tool for stagnation and apathy, as general elections have become as suffrage victories failed to develop into next-stage empowerment campaigns. It's a right - won, as they all are, with pain, suffering and sacrifice. And the people voting will be the people who have felt the pain, experienced the suffering and made the sacrifices. They've demanded the ruling class stop, they've taken on the state, and now they have a chance to force the matter. We're on the verge on a HUGE victory!
4. It's not dull. The passion will there, because the issue is current, the agenda has been set by the people and it's clear how the result of this vote will clearly affect the futures of everyone in Greece (and even around the world).
5. It's likely to work. Polls, interviews and the view from the streets suggests the anti-austerity feeling in Greece is both more widespread and stronger than in UK. It's hard to get a picture from so far away, but it doesn't seem possible that a free, fair vote on a non-leading question in Greece right now would back the austerity programme. Unless the government starts playing some very dirty games (which it probably will) this will be the end of this bailout package in Greece. And given the current resolve of the Greek people, it's hard to imagine they'd be fobbed off by a watered down package or repeat votes.
6. It's potent on an international level. We've only had one thing that could be described as a vote on austerity, and no one voted for what we've got. One European government granting a referendum on an austerity issue could be the start of something really big. If nothing else it heaps pressure onto the tory scum to realise that the working classes are rising up in solidarity around the world, winning victories, and scaring the shit out of the agents of austerity. It makes even clearer to everyone in this country all the more public-empowering options the government has than the course it is taking.
This shock referendum is a huge victory for the working class worldwide.
SOLIDARITY WITH GREECE!
Unite & Fight
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