Front De Gauche: An Alternative to Austerity – C’est Possible!

An important meeting against austerity took place in Rouen this week. Hugo Daillan-Drissi from the Front De Gauche reports for Left Unity on the discussion at the meeting and future plans for an international campaign against austerity.

This Wednesday in Rouen more than 500 people packed into the town hall to protest against the austerity measures still being pursued across Europe. Organised by the Front de Gauche this was an international meeting with comrades speaking  from the Front de Gauche and from the Coalition of Resistance in Britain, from Syriza in Greece and from Esquerda Unida in Portugal. For the Coalition of Resistance Chris Nineham outlined the campaign against austerity in Britain and talked of the preparations that are being made with the support of the trades unions for a People’s Assembly in June. He also invited comrades from Europe to London to attend the European Assembly against austerity that would be held that same weekend. Nikos Graikos from Syriza spoke of the conditions that the Greek people are facing at the cutting edge of the Troika’s austerity drive. More than 60% of young people are unemployed. The health service is shattered and there is a growing danger from fascism. But people are fighting witnessed by the enduring strike wave and factory occupations.Nikos said that the battle against Golden Dawn was now in the streets. He said that Syriza were the leading party in recent polls.

Renato Sireiro from Portugal talked of the fight to defend public utilities in Pthere and the battle to prevent mass redundacies. All agreed to continue a united campaign against this rapacious financial system and to include within the campaign a strong ecological element.

The next meeting will be in Vaux-enVelin on March 13th, the European day of action against austerity. The meeting finished with chants of ‘All unite against austerity. We defend all our gains. Take the Power!’