Podemos which translates in English to “We can”, is a
left-wing anti-austerity, anti-capitalism, political party in Spain. This party
has become the focus of Spanish politics since it was founded in 2014 by Pablo
Iglesias. Since 2014 it has become the second most powerful party in Spain, and
won 8% of the European Parliament votes within just four months of its creation.
In only a few months Podemos also gained over 300,000 members and is rising.
In its first party congress (Citizens’ Assembly - “yes, it
can be done”) it adopted resolutions including: improving education,
anti-corruption measures, improving healthcare, and re-structuring the European
debt. Podemos also presented a collaboratively written programme that
emphasizes healing the Spanish economy through promoting social dignity via
universal basic income, and changing the taxation system. The programme also
emphasizes abandoning free trade agreements, leaving institutions such as NATO,
and redefining the Spanish sovereignty.
The Spanish Economy is heavily embedded in trade treaties, and
financial bailouts from institutions such as the European Central Bank (ECB)
and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). All of the previous governments have
continued the neo-liberal agenda of deficit reduction, and austerity measures i.e.
lending public money (taxes) to financial intuitions while selling off public
services. Also countries such as Spain, Ireland, Portugal and Italy are used
like financial sink holes to absorb surplus capital: indebted countries’ resources
are ransacked while the crediting countries (such as Germany) are protected.
Major bourgeois political parties in Europe, from centre-left
to centre-right, are using “debt repayment” and “debt reduction” as an excuse
to pass deep austerity cuts to social services via privatization. However, if
Podemos remains loyal to its working class power base, at the least it will
have the ability to renegotiate its bailout and will not need to play by the
rules of European neo-liberalism. That is, Podemos needs to create and maintain
the confidence in the working people of Spain that their class political and economic
interests are at the forefront. As long as Podemos continues on the path of
untangling Spain from the web of capital accumulation and financial institutions
such as ECB and IMF and towards the social division of surplus, the working
class, in its millions, will defend it and keep it in power.
The working people in their thousands marched in support of
Podemos in Madrid chanting “Yes we can” and “Tick tock tick tock”: suggesting
the end of political elite in Spain. This call for change was echoed in Greece
by Syriza that swept into power this week. Change is coming to Europe and
perhaps it will mean an end to the humiliating robbery of the working people of
Europe.
Chia Barsen
www.chiabarsen.com
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