France Far left "affirms itself"
According to the LCR weekly newspaper Rouge, "despite massive abstention by working people, this score confirms the growing support for the far left since 1995. The media are mostly talking about the high score for the far right and the greens. But it is also clear that the far left has affirmed itself as a significant, stable political force."
According to Rouge, those who voted for the LO-LCR list voted against the bosses, the right and the far right, and punished the left coalition government for its policies." Socialist Party Prime Minister Leonel Jospin and his Communist and Green partners received "a clear warning. People will no longer tolerate the policies of a government which is privatising, questioning retirement pension rights, encourages the explosion of part-time work and job insecurity, and International Viewpoint do nothing about unemployment."
The time has come to chose "between adapting to the capitalist logic of Maastricht Europe, or real left policies. Like an emergency plan to combat unemployment and misery. To break with the logic of profit, and satisfy people's social needs"
The new LO-LCR deputies will try to unite the left-including those who voted for the governing parties-around demands for an immediate change in government policies. "Outlaw redundancy measures and "downsizing" in companies like Elf and Alsthom which are making huge profits, while cutting jobs. Impose a reduction of the working week, in a way that creates new jobs, without worsening working conditions. Defend the retirement pension against government attacks. Give papers to all the undocumented immigrants."
"We continue our struggle for another Europe. A Europe which is above all for the workers and the peoples, not for the multinationals and the banks. This continent has the resources to overcome the current crisis. We should harmonise the social gains, like the minimum wage, at the highest level that exists inside Europe. We should enforce a coordinated reduction of the working week to 35 and then to 30 hours per week. We should eat into the profits of the capitalists, and tax speculative capital. We should reduce the total control which the employers and the multinationals have over the economy.
"Other left parties have a radical discourse at election time, and quite another discourse once they are elected. Not us. Our two parties, and our five deputies in the European parliament, will remain faithful to the interests of those who gave us their confidence". * For more information (in French only) see www.lcrrouge.org/index.html half price for all new readers!
Analysis with attitude!
Eleven issues, delivered by airmail for only
YOUR NAME .
Britain/Ireland
ADDRESS
Denmark
Germany
Greece new subscribers renewal
£25 0
£13
0
DKK 380
0
DKK200
DM 55
DM 110
6000 dr
3000 dr
CITY
CODE:
CoUNTRY ..
E-MAIL/O..
Send no cash with order. We will invoice you.
Holland
Sweden
Australia/NZ
Canada
USA f95 0 f50 SEK 400 SEK 200
$ 70 0 $ 40
C$ 80 C$ 40 US$ 70 0 US$ 35 US$ 70 US$ 35
International Viewpoint #313 July 1999
----- photo credits and running heads -----
00
* Kosovo and Serbia
THIS ISAT WORTH A SINGLE
Repainting
'Guernica
PAINT!
BRITISH LAPE!
STOP NOW. YOU ARSE-HOKING
PAINT!
STOOGE OF YANKEE IMPERIALSM!!!
THE PHANG IS JUST MAKING
THIS PAINTING IS
THINGS WORSE!!
ILL- CONCENED AND
ILLEGAL!
THIS PRING WILL
SUM-L00k5
DESTROY PANTING
A BIT LIKE
RANN..
THIS EASELS FEET
ARE ON THE GROUND!
RETARGET OR
• WEAFONS!
IT'S NONE oF OUR
I'M GOING To BLOODY
BUSINESS!
WELL WRITE ANOTHER LETER
TO THE BLOODY GUARDIAN
ABOUT THIS!