Katerina addresses the meeting
On Tuesday 26th February, Socialist Students hosted Katerina Kleistsa’s talk on the situation in Greece. It was a successful meeting attracting current members and new potential members alike.
Tim McConnell, Leeds University Socialist Students
The facts and statistic coming out of Greece paint a dramatic picture. Youth unemployment is at around 2/3s, homelessness has rocketed. The police are clamping down on any sign of resistance, with brutality on the street becoming a common sight.
The political situation over the next few years, whilst it presents a unique opportunity to spread socialist ideas, is full of pitfalls and dangers. It came up several times during the meeting that if the working class organisations fail to fight back effectively now then a return to military dictatorship is very real possibility, with fascism dangerously close. The “Golden Dawn” (A far right fascist group) has managed to appeal to a layer of shopkeepers and disenfranchised middle classes who feel let down by the system, and achieved a 10% vote in the last election. Their violence is already posing a threat to workers organisations, and to the safety of people in the street.
Syriza, a new left party, has made great gains in recent elections, and is well positioned to attract new layers of workers has the struggles continue. However, Syriza doeshave some flaws both flawed organisationally with some careerists from the now discredited Pasok trying to make a new life in the party, as well as politically by distancing itself from some of the slogans to helped it win 30% in recent elections such as a left government and cancelling the debt. Vitally though, it opposes austerity and is willing to take radical action to realize this opposition.
Across Europe there is no end to austerity in sight. With Italy now in political deadlock, it seems likely that crisis will once again erupt in the Eurozone. Greece acts as both a warning and example of what could happen across the rest of the Eurozone, showing that we must be prepared
The discussion was lively and in-depth, and everyone left with a better knowledge of the issues. Overall, the meeting was very successful, and has put us in contact with several new, interested, people.
Leeds Socialist Students 