Hope Dwindles – but Solidarity Remains

FactCheck: HELLAS Solidarity with the population in Greece July 2015 Nikos Chilas: Debates in and around SYRIZA (p.3) ++ Antje Vollmer: Democratic departures and democratic abortions in Athens (p.3) +++ The Bonn government and Nazi criminals in Greece (p.4) +++ refugees in northern Greece (p.6/7)+++ A coup On July 12th the #Thisisacoup hashtag Hope dwindles – became one of the largest trends on twitter worldwide. It spoke to millions of people across all continents. It proves the point the guardians of the Euro can‘t hide from the world but solidarity remains community anymore: To be a Eurozone member means that creditors can destroy the economies of countries with democratically elected govern- ments in order to whip them into line. “Tanks in the past // banks today” Someone commented on twitter. This was characteristic for the tone of the discussion. By the way: One insight coming out of the second world war was this: “Immediately after the first German tank // there comes a German bank”. Uncountable tweets argued that the Greek government is being forced to capitulate by ECB and bank closures. In tweeting his blog entry “killing the European project” Paul Krugman joined in with those social reece tra- This media users increasingly disillusioned velled an way Greece with Europe. Gextreme will be Especially Germany faced criticism: distance in just reduced to “The German government‘s conduct three steps taken a half-colo- simply is shameful” one user said. The during the days nial status. economist Branko Milanovic tweeted: between July 5th and What “Madness! Schaeuble wants to destroy July 13th. These steps happens 55 years of European integration can be summed up like next? Alexis to punish Tsipras.” During the night this: July 5th, democratic Tsipras could before Monday #Thisisacoup was victory after the referen- degenerate replaced by a new slogan in Greece: dum result was proclaimed into becoming #TsiprasleaveEUsummit became the on Sunday; gesture of sub- the administrator new trend calling on Tsipras to reject mission and a last compromise of this half-colony as a deal. “Alexis take the next plane offer made by the Greek parlia- happened to Alexander and come home! We trust you!” was ment on Friday July 10th; uncondi- Dubcek after the Soviet how one user summed up the mood. tional surrender of minister-president Union invaded Prague in 1968. Tweets started to express anger and Alexis Tsipras on Monday July 13th. The Or an all party coalition could disappointment as it became clear departure and end points of these three take over this job. Or the banks could on Monday morning that Tsipras had stages are historic events where the shots. Put still collapse, creating complete chaos backed down. “Tsipras take a plane most recent Greek tragedy is concerned. differently: In resto- ending with an EU-attempt to install a but don‘t come back to Greece” On July 5th 61.3 per cent of Greek 2014 the largest Greek red”. This is direct protectorate. All this could happen someone joked cynically. “Forget the voters participating in the referendum companies had an added turnover of 57 pure colonial language. unless something extraordinary happens power stations, water works, ports voted against the new austerity pro- billion Euro, which is the equivalent of This declaration is a document of at very short notice. Like an uprising of and airports” someone else said in gramme demanded by the EU, ECB and German car manufacturer VW‘s quarterly unconditional surrender. The full credi- the SYRIZA left, a general strike, a broad sorrow. The “coup” pointed out by especially the Berlin government. People turnover. Does this clarify things?! For tors programme is to be implemented. popular movement following on from the global social media swarm was in Greece did so although 80 per cent three days the creditors refused to In the three days following the summit the referendum “no”. If not we will be successful. But at least the “democra- of Greek media outlets were banging even start serious negotiations. They the Athens parliament has to agree to witnessing a real coup d‘etat. But in tic and humanistic” rhetorical masks the drum for “yes” with Brussels and repeatedly stated: “The ball is in the the first decisive steps implementing this this case power is taken over from the of European policy have fallen. Berlin also strongly demanding a “yes”. Greek corner”. But why? There was an capitulation. The content of this declara- outside, by the EU, ECB and IMF. These They voted decisively even though the EU-proposal. There was a Greek “no”. tion shows how creditors will govern into “institutions” will carry out their job Margarita Tsomou, Athens. ECB stopped all financial aid for Greek This meant the creditors would have even details of Greek everyday life. It sta- under orders from big business and big banks immediately after the referendum to reconsider their position. After one tes that shops should open on Sundays finance who will exploit the country‘s A message from us was called, which is why Greek banks and a half weeks with closed banks and that ferries should “be opened up to resources and an increasingly impoveris- This is the fourth issue of had to close on the Monday before the the Greek government and the Athens competition” which means privatisation. hed population. FactCheck:Hellas founded in referendum took place. The referendum parliament gave up. In the early morning Crucially, a so called “independent fund” And what about us? We carry our Germany in April 2015. In June pitted the harsh and immoral argument of July 11th, with the assistance of French will be set up to which “Greek assets” share of guilt in this tragedy. The we published our third issue in of “closed banks” against the “soft” de- “advisers”, they agreed on a “program- worth 50 billion Euro have to be trans- European left was unable to develop the three languages. This current issue mand of a “vote of dignity”. But morality me of reforms” mostly identical with the ferred. These assets are companies and necessary broad solidarity with the Greek appears in six languages: German, and dignity won. The day after, Tsipras one put forward by the creditors at the real estate currently owned by the Greek population and the SYRIZA led govern- English, French, Italian, Spanish and seemed to be able to reap what he had end of June. From now on it was like in state which will soon be privatised by ment. There were no mass mobilisations Greek. The Greek issue appeared sown: All democratic parties except a Mafia film. “Enough is not enough!” the new “independent fund”. Something for Greece in Madrid, Lisbon, Rome and as a supplement of the big daily EFSYN – the journalists newspaper. the communist KKE signed a declara- the creditors shouted. Every hour they similar happened in Germany at the Berlin – although millions of people Details of publishers and supporters tion strengthening Tsipras‘ negotiating demanded more. Schaeuble, Merkel and beginning of the 1990s. Objectively the followed the struggle of the Greek on page 2. position in Brussels. Opposition leader Gabriel now even demanded a “tem- assets transferred into the “independent population with sympathy. It is therefore We ask you to please support Samaras resigned, leaving it leaderless. porary Grexit” to increase the atmosphe- fund” may well be worth 50 billion Euro even more important to show solidarity FactCheck:Hellas and to help us But the EU and the Berlin govern- re of threat deemed necessary to achieve or more. But the planned sell off will in these days of bitterness and anger, spreading this publication. ment consider democracy to be a laug- total victory. In the end Tsipras signed raise only a friction of this money. This is and to take every opportunity to oppose hing stock. This they made immediately a Euro summit declaration on July 13th purely about selling off public goods for and resist the arrogance of capital and Your FCH-editors. clear. Only the powerful can call the stating that “Greek credibility has to be ridiculously low amounts of money. colonial rule. 2 Solidarity with the population in Greece Fact versus fiction fter Alexis Tsipras‘ capi- carefully accounted for lists of proposals. was to be paid back. But the creditors tulation to the Eurogroup The Greek approach was diametrically wanted austerity by continuously cutting Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras‘ summary comments at the European has created ample amounts different to the one adopted by the cre- public spending and mass incomes. A Parliament, July 8th of fertile ground, demagogic slogans. ditors though. The three key differences These measures played a key role in “For five months, the negotiation has taken place behind closed doors. […] FactCheck:Hellas takes up a few of were: Firstly, rather than being primarily creating the deep crisis the country has I’d like to say that I’m in agreement with the views voiced that the European those to provide some sober counter- about saving money the proposals were been experiencing since 2011. Parliament should play a more active role. The Parliament could indeed have arguments. concerned with generating economic empowered the three institutions–the Troika–certainly the Commission and growth in order to strengthen public Claim: Greece is a run down country. the European Central Bank, that handles funding; instead, Troika decisions Claim: The government failed to finances. Secondly tax revenue was to be Answer: It is. SYRIZA said so before the have been driven by the IMF rather than the pre-eminent European instituti- produce credible policies since it got increased by taxing the rich and closing elections and the Greek government has on of democracy, the European Parliament.” elected on January 25th.

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