Yes Man: Eurogroup's Dijsselbloem admits that "with Tsipras almost everything has been easier"

"Feel like home". PM Tsipras welcomes Jeroen Dijssebloem.

The outgoing Eurogroup president Jeroen Dijsselbloem admitted something that everybody knew: The fact that the SYRIZA-ANEL coalition government of Alexis Tsipras was easily submitted to the demands of the creditors thus doing the "dirty job" on behalf of the capital by imposing new harsh antipeople-antiworkers' measures.

In an interview with the "Financial Times" on Friday, the former Dutch finance minister talked about the shambolic negotiations with the Tsipras government in the first half of 2016, as well as his tenuous relations with Yanis Varoufakis, then Greece's finance minister, generated immediate reverberations in Athens.

Workers in Greece respond with new nationwide strike to the antipeople policy of SYRIZA government

The Greek Government of SYRIZA (which is in alliance with the far-right ANEL party) prepares the escalation of the attack against the workers and the popular strata of Greece.

The last memorandum with its new prerequisites leads to a new round of attack against the life of the working-people families, as over the next few months the government is to complete a massive amount of anti-peoples’ measures so as to declare the supposed “end of the memorandums”. Measures already agreed with the EU-IMF-ECB and which are demanded by the industrialists, ship-owners, the bankers etc, since they serve their competitiveness and profits.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS regarding the current political situation in Greece

Odigitis International Edition
(October 2017) Front Page.

The following article is republished from the International Edition (October 2017) of "Odigitis" monthly, Organ of the CC of the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE).

It is reasonable for a youngster following international developments to wonder about the situation in Greece and to express interest precisely for the last two years that the government of Greece has been assigned to a “left” party. That party (SYRIZA) added 2 new memorandums and additional barbaric measures crashing the rights and conquests of the people. Finally, after so many measures voted, they declare that “we are approaching growth, from which all of us are going to benefit”. However, is it like this? In this article we are trying to give answers about the real situation in Greece, about the way out in favor of the people, the one that KKE proposes, through three questions that often people make. 

Greek state budget: Tsipras' government is doing the "dirty job" on behalf of the capitalists

Speaking yesterday in the Parliament during the discussion on state budget, Prime Minister Tsipras developed the narrative of "post-memorandums Greece", while presenting his government as the most capable to guarantee the recovery of the capitalists' profitability. 

PM Tsipras, bypassing the class content and character of the 2018 state budget- which, like the previous ones consists a tool for the implementation of the strategy of the capital, by attacking people's rights, cutting social spending, providing even more tax exemptions to large business groups, etc- said with certainly that "this is the last memorandum budget, we are now doing different things with different results". 

Tsipras and Erdogan, both enemies of the working class in Greece and Turkey

By Nikos Mottas. 

The visit of the Turkish President Erdogan in Greece has concluded. A lot of things were said in front of cameras and, certainly, even more behind closed doors. We could write about several conclusions regarding the undisputable upgrade of Ankara's assertions against Greece's sovereign rights, the unacceptable demand for the revision of the Treaty of Lausanne, the pretexts of President Erdogan regarding minorities, etc.

However, if we would like to summarize the very essense of Erdogan's visit, we must briefly- and clearly- point out the following:

• Both President Erdogan, as well as the Greek leadership, repeated in their public statements the (trite) wishes about “good neighborly relations”, “mutual respect”, “friendship” and “peace” between the two countries. All these are empty words, taking into account that within the framework of imperialism, within the framework of the NATO alliance – members of which are both countries – actual friendship and peace cannot exist. This is a given and multiple times proven in the passage of history truth. Therefore, with these words, Tsipras and Erdogan do not deceive each other, but they deceive together the Greek and Turkish people.

KKE: Tsipras government's "social dividend" consists crude and shameless propaganda

In an effort to disorient public opinion from the agenda of the upcoming new antipeople measures, Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras made an unscheduled television appearance on Monday night to announce a €1.4bn “social dividend” to be paid next month to more than 3m Greeks who have been hit hardest by the country’s seven-year recession and the antiworkers-antipeople policies implemented by the governments of ND, PASOK and SYRIZA. The handout would include €720m in one-off payments for low-income Greeks and €315m in rebates for earlier cuts in healthcare payments, Premier Tsipras said. 

The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) issued a statement denouncing the Prime Minister's announcements as "crude and shameless propaganda". More specifically, the statement of the Press Office of the CC of the KKE writes:

From Souda to Alexandroupolis: Tsipras' government transforms Greece into a huge US-NATO base

The U.S. ambassador in Greece Geoffrey Pyatt made some quite revealing remarks about the interest of the United States regarding the strategic role of Greek ports and maritime industry, during a speech at the 17th Navigator Maritime Forum. 

Here is part of the report by the Athens News Agency-Macedonian News Agency (bold letters are ours):

Commenting on Prime Minister Tsipras' recent visit to Chicago and Washington, he said it strengthened Greek-U.S. ties and that "the message Americans heard throughout the visit, at the very highest levels, was that Greece is back, open for business and a pillar of stability in its region." 

Tsipras meets South Korean PM, adopts the dangerous U.S. position regarding Korean Peninsula

Regarding the visit of South Korea's Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon in Athens and his meeting with his Greek counterpart Alexis Tsipras, the Press Office of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) issued the following statement:

"The common statements of Mr.Tsipras and South Korean Premier about the economic relations between the two countries, among them the business of Greek shipowners in South Korea while the shipyards in Greece are under-running or shutting down, must not hide the following very significant thing: Mr. Tsipras adopted all the pretexts of the USA about the nuclear program of North Korea. These (pretexts) have as an actual aim the promotion of the geostrategic interests and dangerous military plans of the USA, which are threatening peace in the Korean Peninsula and the broader region, in the framework of their competition with other powers.

KKE: Statement regarding the meeting between PM Tsipras and President Trump in the United States

Source: Rizospastis / Translation: In Defense of Communism.

Regarding the recent meeting between Greek Premier Alexis Tsipras and U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington DC, the Press Office of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece issued the following statement:

"The Tsipras-Trump meeting evolved into an- unbelievably cynic- confession that the aim of the trip to the United States was the deeper involvement of Greece in the dangerous plans of USA-NATO in the region, as well as into an outrageous "white-washing" of the Trump government's barbaric policy from the side of Mr.Tsipras.

Only the fact that the SYRIZA-ANEL government received credit from the USA for supporting NATO plans and spending the 2% of the GDP for NATO military equipment, is enough for someone to realize that this meeting can only create new dangers for the Greek people and the other peoples of the region. 

KKE comments on Tsipras' visit to the US: The SYRIZA-ANEL government confirms its loyalty to NATO-USA

Regarding the five-days long visit of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to the United States, where he will have a meeting with President Donald Trump, the Press Office of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece made the following comment:

"The trip of the Prime Minister to the USA- regardless of any communication tricks by the government- has one basic aim: The upgrade of the US-NATO bases in Greece and the deeper involvement of the country in the murderous plans of USA-EU-NATO in the broader region.

Thousands of workers raised their voice against Tsipras government's anti-people policies

Thousands of working people, farmers, unemployed, pensioners and students participated in the large demonstration organised by the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) which took place in Thessaloniki, Greece, on Saturday evening. The rally was held on the occasion of the inauguration, by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, of the city's International Trade Fair. 

Representatives of Trade Unions and labor organisations delivered short greeting messages, while the major speech was given by the member of the executive committee of PAME and General Secretary of the Thessaloniki Labour Center Leonidas Stoltidis. 

The General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Greece, Dimitris Koutsoumbas, attended the rally and made the following statement to the Press:

Workers-Labor Unions to demonstrate against SYRIZA government's policies in Thessaloniki

Poster of PAME propagandizing
the September 9th rally.

On the occasion of the 82^st Thessaloniki International Trade Fair (TIF), the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) issued an announcement calling the working class, small farmers, women and the youth to participate in mass demonstration against the antipeople policy of the SYRIZA-ANEL coalition government.

The demonstration in Thessaloniki will take place on Saturday, September 9th, the day of the International Fair's inauguration by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.

“Government-Industrialists-EU pave the ground for the next looting! No consensus to the continuation of the slaughter of our rights! No compromise with poverty and miserable life!” underlines the announcement of PAME and calls the working class to give a militant response to the antipeople policy of the coalition government. 

"PAME addresses the workers of private and public sector, the self-employed people, the small farmers, women and young people, calling them to strengthen the struggles, for a militant response and counterattack!". The statement of the All-Workers Militant Front unleashes an attack against the SYRIZA-ANEL government's policy on all levels, including economy, social and foreign policy. 

Tsipras-Varoufakis: Loyal servants of the capitalist system

By Nikos Mottas*. 

During the last few days we are witnessing a highly hypocritical “blame game” between Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and his former finance minister Yanis Varoufakis. In his latest book titled “Adults in the room”, Varoufakis tries to present himself as a “fighter” who resisted Europe's “deep establishment”.

In his “political thriller”, the ex-finance minister describes how the Tsipras government handled the negotiations with its creditors, outlining the role each government official played during that period. As for his former collaborator, Varoufakis writes among other things: “Alexis Tsipras appears totally overwhelmed, unable to collide with his own consultants who were pro loan agreement, in some cases he was totally manipulated by the ‘internal’ and ‘external’ Troika”.

KKE Gen.Secretary D.Koutsoumbas: "People's struggle against capitalism is what brings hope"

Source: inter.kke.gr.

On July 3 2017, a pre-agenda discussion in Parliament was held at the level of the party leaders on the issue of the economy, at the request of the President of ND, K.Mitsotakis, on the occasion of the recent agreement in the Eurogroup regarding the completion of the second "review" of the Greek economy.

As was expected, the Prime minister A.Tsipras, the President of ND K.Mitsotakis and the leaders of the rest of the bourgeois parties attempted to use confrontational language in order to conceal their strategic convergence around the basic demands of capital, swapping accusations about who "undermines" the aims of capital and who serves them better.

In contrast, the GS of the CC of the KKE, D.Koutsoumpas, noted that the real hope for the working class and people is not to be found in the plans and negotiations of the capitalists. Dimitris Koutsoumpas underscored that the biggest memorandum is the capitalist development path itself. He noted that the fairy tales about "just development" in capitalism, which allegedly benefits both the monopolies and the people, are collapsing every day in the workplaces, where the harsh exploitation of the workers is realized.

Tripartite Summit of Greece-Cyprus-Israel: Who will be benefited from this "strategic partnership"?

Source: inter.kke.gr.

Another link in the chain of plans and antagonisms that are dangerous for the peoples

On 15/6 the 3rd Greece-Israel High Level Cooperation Council and the Tripartite Summit of Greece-Cyprus-Israel were held in Thessaloniki with the participation of the Prime Ministers A. Tsipras and B. Netanyahu and the Cypriot President N. Anastasiades.

The discussions and decisions taken there reflect the government's goal regarding the geo-strategic enhancement of local business groups, the interconnection of capital from the three countries and the expansion of their joint business activity, mainly regarding energy resources and transport routes.

SYRIZA: The "left" servants of NATO

By Nikos Mottas*.

In the name of the so-called “geostrategic enhancement” doctrine of the country and following the path of the previous governments of New Democracy and PASOK, the SYRIZA-ANEL government has been proved NATO's "best student". Since its formation on January 2015, the governmental alliance between the social democratic SYRIZA and the nationalist ANEL party has aligned itself with the dangerous plans and goals of the imperialists.

KKE GS Dimitris Koutsoumbas: "The Greek people do not believe anymore the fairy tale of Mr.Tsipras"

Visiting the city of Patras, where he met with the city's communist mayor Kostas Peletidis, the Secretary General of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Dimitris Koutsoumbas made the following statement:

"The Greek people do not believe anymore this oft repeated fairy tale which Mr.Tsipras and his government repeat, that the people's sacrificies finally have results, that development will come and will be for their benefit. The huge sacrifices that the Greek people done, do and will continue doing, under the policies of governments so far, are for the interests of the big capital, of a few monopoly groups. This is the essence of that and our people are kneeling, bleeding and will continue doing so under the lasting memorandums and the new measures that are coming". 

Source: 902.gr / Translation: In Defense of Communism.

KKE blasts Tsipras' government for accomplishing "dirty missions against the people"

Source: 902.gr / Translation: In Defense of Communism.

After the decision of Thursday's Eurogroup, the Press Office of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) issued the following statement:

"Yesterday's Eurogroup welcomed and ratified the antipeople measures of the second review and the 4th memorandum- the largest package of measures, as it characteristically says- confirming that the SYRIZA-ANEL government is the government of "dirty" special missions against the people.

Political Knavery: SYRIZA government crushes people's rights, votes for extra austerity measures

"Butchers" of pensions, salaries, workers rights.
PM Alexis Tsipras (right) with Finance Minister
Euclid Tsakalotos.

With the 153 votes of the SYRIZA-ANEL coalition government's MPs, Greece’s parliament approved on Friday a handful of additional antipeople austerity measures demanded by creditors in order to unlock more than €7bn of aid and complete a much delayed second review of the so-called bailout progam. 

Once again, the government of Tsipras proves its role in doing the "dirty job" on behalf of the creditors and the big Capital. 

The extra austerity measures, which were added to draft legislation on fishing regulations in an attempt to speed up their passage through parliament, are related to further cuts in pensions and "freezing" of the collective contracts until 2022, taxation issues and electronic auction of properties. 

Alexis Tsipras assures industrialists that the anti-people policy will continue

His committment in implementing new anti-people, anti-workers measures Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras expressed at the Hellenic Federation of Enteprises (SEV) annual general assembly on Wednesday. 

Tsipras delivered a speech during an event marking the 100th anniversary since SEV's foundation where he characterized the capitalist recovery of the economy as a "national goal". 

"The future of the economy for many decades will be judged at this time. We must be united before a goal of national importance," Tsipras said. The demand for sustainable growth and a national plan for radical changes had yet to be fulfilled, he said, while the years of crisis had amply demonstrated that the previous production model had failed. This model would have to be redesigned in order for Greece to exit the crisis and the country was now asking its creditors to meet their own commitments, enabling Greece to access the markets on its own merits.