Building an anti-Memorandum alliance

August 26, 2015

The left wing of SYRIZA has formed a new alliance of radical and revolutionary organizations to campaign in early elections forced by Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras after his capitulation to the demands of European governments and financial institutions for harsh new austerity measures in return for an 86 billion euro bailout of the financial system.

Tsipras, who gained power when SYRIZA won a decisive victory in January elections on the strength of its anti-austerity policies, retreated in the face of pressure from the European "institutions" and accepted a bailout agreement that is equivalent of a new "Memorandum"--the term used to refer to previous government's agreements to drastic neoliberal measures. Tsipras won final approval for the agreement from parliament earlier this month, but over one-quarter of SYRIZA members of parliament voted "no" or abstained in opposition, forcing the government to rely on "yes" votes from pro-austerity mainstream parties, like the center-right New Democracy and center-left PASOK and Potami.

After the vote, Tsipras resigned in order to force early elections, in advance of a SYRIZA party congress. With the prime minister openly declaring that he would punish members of parliament who refused to vote for the Memorandum, the Left Platform announced, with the statement below, that it would participate in the formation of an alliance of left-wing forces, from within SYRIZA and outside it, to run in the early elections. A total of 25 members of parliament later signed a statement announcing the formation of Popular Unity, making it the third-largest party in the current parliament from the start. Elections are expected to be set later this week for sometime next month.

ALEXIS TSIPRAS, with his proclamation of another austerity Memorandum, has done a complete about-face that is radically opposed to the commitments and struggles of SYRIZA.

The foremost promise made by Tsipras is Greece's compliance with the austerity measures of the previous Memorandums and the even more drastic demands of a new third Memorandum, which places the country in miserable servitude. Tsipras agreed to all this without the consent of the people, and without the consent of the members and leading bodies of SYRIZA.

The early elections called by Tsipras are being held in order to place a tombstone over the proud "Oxi" vote of the July 5 referendum--to place a tombstone over the anti-Memorandum struggles of the past and the expectations of the people for the future. The call for elections now not only tears up the anti-Memorandum commitments of SYRIZA, but also asks the Greek people to put the noose around their own necks by making them choose between the alternatives of Tspiras or New Democracy or PASOK or Potami, which together constitute the parties of the new Memorandum consensus.

Protesting austerity in Syntagma Square outside the Greek parliament building
Protesting austerity in Syntagma Square outside the Greek parliament building

The Left Platform will stay faithful to the commitments of SYRIZA. In keeping with the cry of "Oxi" from the Greek people, it today raises the banner of struggle as the way out of the crisis, and toward reconstruction and progress for the country.

The Left Platform will immediately participate in the creation of a broad, anti-Memorandum alliance--a progressive, democratic front that will campaign in the elections for a decisive rejection of all the Memorandums. For renouncing the bulk of the debt. For defending the defiant "Oxi" of the Greek people in the referendum vote. For canceling the austerity measures affecting wages, pensions and social spending. For stopping the sell-off of Greece's public properties. For putting the country on a new path of national independence and sovereignty--an alternative, progressive course leading to recovery.

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