by Bill F.   (August 2013)

 

 

Syriza improved its vote from 4.7% in 2009 to 16.8% in the May election, taking 52 seats, just behind the conservative New Democracy with 18.8% and 58 seats. As New Democracy came in first, it was constitutionally awarded an extra 50 seats bonus, supposedly to ensure stable government!

 

Meanwhile the Socialist Party (PASOK) slumped into third place with just over 13% of the vote. In the next round this is likely to be further eroded as PASOK is now seen as a vile collaborator with German/European imperialism and is compromised and totally discredited in the eyes of the toiling masses.

 

Syriza is a coalition of a number of groups, including the Communist Organisation of Greece (KOE) which had 3 representatives elected as part of the bloc. It played a very positive role in mobilising workers, students and unemployed youth in the massive demonstrations against the cruel austerity measures imposed on the people by the “troika” – the International Monetary Fund, the European Union and the European Central Bank.

 

In its mass work, the KOE applied the dictum of Mao Zedong, “Broaden the base, narrow the target” to build the anti-imperialist united front, and actively participated at all levels of the mass movement, in mass organisations, on the streets and in the parliamentary arena. At the same time, they have maintained an independent position, as demonstrated by the Press Statement of May 11.

 

“The bargaining discussions among the pro-troika political parties, aiming at the formation of an “ecumenical government” with the addition of the “Democratic Left”, constitute an attempt to reconstruct the pro-troika reactionary block and to save the trembling, rotten and guilty political system.

 

“These attempts are a direct violation of the verdict of the Greek People on the national elections of 6 May. At the same time, these attempts constitute a continuation of the subordination of the pro-troika political parties to the provocative and sustained interventions of Merkel, Sch�uble, Barroso, Dragi and the like against the will of the Greek People.

 

“The Greek People has sent a categorical and majoritarian message on 6 May against the “agreements” with the IMF-EU-ECB troika. The colonial regime imposed by the “agreements” and by the troika is once and for all condemned by the Greek People. The same goes for its servants, no matter if they wear a blue (right wing), green (PASOK) or pink (“Democratic Left”) costume.

 

“The Greek People demands that its vote is respected. The Greek People demands a way out that excludes this political system, which either tolerated or imposed the colonial regime of the new occupation by the imperialists and the bankers.

 

“All these forces, which openly or covertly obey to the troika’s demands, can be sure that any attempt to counterfeit the People’s will, shall only further grow the popular rage, which will sweep away any pro-troika ‘government’. The forgery of the People’s will shall fail!”

 

The masses responded with great enthusiasm for the Syriza position as it crystallised their demands, their search for unity and their hatred of the imperialist agenda. Left parties and groups that stayed aloof from the popular movement had little impact, and are unlikely to win wider support until they catch up with the mood of the people.

 

Nevertheless the situation is fluid, and dark forces will be at work. US imperialism has air and naval forces based in Greece, while the Greek military has a history of violent intervention on behalf of the most reactionary sections of the ruling class. The working people of Greece know their history well, and will be prepared for the battles that lie ahead.