Editorial
Give Greece a chance …
By Felipe Van Keirsbilck (Alter Summit)
The spectacular results of the Greek elections on January 25 provoke millions of comments: each announcement, each incident, each manœuvre of the ECB to put pressure on governments shake up the media and the social networks.
Alter Summit and its affiliated organisations observe the events from further away, but at the same time with an involvement which brings them closer to them.
First the distance: it stems from the fact that our common basis, between more than 100 organisations in 20 countries, can be summarized in a very simple question: how are we going to put a spanner in the wheels of austerity policies? Or, in other words, how are we going to stop European governments to persevere in their policy of austerity?
From the basis which has brought us together for nearly 3 years, the political situation in Greece brings about two essential questions (which will be debated at the Alter Summit assembly next 5th and 6th of March):
Does the arrival of an anti-austerity government in one (single) country constitute a sufficient event? How can this country confront the Europe of austerity?
What is the role Greek and European social networks are playing in this new situation?
But the reflection we have been having for two years is not that of a group of “experts”, because our involvement is very real!
18 months ago, there were 2000 of us in Athens demanding a social, ecological, egalitarian and democratic Europe. If needs be, we shall go back to Athens to express our political and material solidarity with a nation having had the courage to vote against the program lines of Brussels and Frankfurt.
Whatever happens with political shenanigans and negotiations, this nation deserves to be given a chance to change direction. We will be by its side!
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