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Analyzing the Failures of Syriza
Dolack, Pete
http://www.counterpunch.org/2017/06/23/analyzing-the-failures-of-syriza/Date Written: 2017-07-23 Publisher: Counterpunch Year Published: 2017 Resource Type: Article Cx Number: CX20999 Examines the failture of Syriza, The Coalition of the Radical Left, since their election in Greece. Abstract: - Excerpt: Anticipation grew as Syriza prepared to take office, but the party's 2014 Thessaloniki Program was seen by many as a significant retreat. Was Syriza watering down its wine even before the next election? Whatever the strength of the wine, Syriza won the election of January 2015. The "troika" of EU institutions and the International Monetary Fund that had been dictating austerity to the previous Greek governments wasted no time in tightening the screws on the new government in what was seen as an outright attempt to humiliate Syriza. Negotiations dragged on, and amidst much international solidarity, Prime Minister Tsipras called a referendum that summer to supposedly buttress his negotiating position. Greeks responded by heavily voting "no" to further austerity. The Syriza government then did a remarkable about-face. Eight days later, Prime Minister Tsipras signed an agreement even more unfavorable that what had been demanded by the troika. More than half of Syriza's central committee signed an opposition letter and most Syriza members were furious. This was ignored. Some Syriza officials offered public justifications for this turn of events, arguing that the party was in a marathon and not a finished race, and that the party retained scope for maneuver and to continue to be a Left party through links with solidarity networks. Others, however, argued that the new agreement was a disastrous capitulation. One alternative path to austerity was to exit the eurozone. The counter-argument was that the analysis supporting a eurozone withdrawal was correct but nonetheless such a road should not be taken due to the balance of forces tilted heavily against the Greek economy. Subject Headings |