Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 13-12-14

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Tsipras: European Left the only alternative to 'barbaric neoliberalism', rise of far right

[01] Tsipras: European Left the only alternative to 'barbaric neoliberalism', rise of far right

Tsipras, who is to be formally nominated as the EL's candidate for European Commission president at the end of the two-day congress on Sunday, stressed that the alternatives were clear:

"Either we stay motionless or we move forward. Either we consent to the neoliberal status quo and pretend that the crisis can be resolved by policies that have recycled it, or we proceed to the future with the European Left," he stressed.

Tsipras warned that the people of Europe were in danger, along with democracy itself, from the policies of neoliberalism and the "barbaric austerity measures" aimed against the people, while democracy was under threat from the far right.

"The only alternative solution is the resistance of the peoples and strengthening the European Left," he added.

According to SYRIZA's leader, the years of crisis had vindicated the positions expressed by the European Left over the years concerning the flaws inherent in the Eurozone and a society sensitive only to the needs of the financial sector and capital.

He underlined the need for a 'real' central bank that acted as a lender of last resort for states as well as banks, European legislation to separate commercial and investment banks and effective taxation of offshore companies.

Tsipras also repeated proposals for a European Debt Conference, along the lines of that held in London in 1953 for Germany, and a European 'New Deal' to fight unemployment.

"In order for Europe to survive, it needs redistribution and solidarity. These are the foundations of the radically new Europe we are fighting for. In place of a Europe that redistributes income to the rich and fear to the poor," he said.

Referring to Greece, Tsipras said the country provided daily proof that the austerity memorandums were 'how-to' guides for poverty and economic control by the country's creditors, which had triggered a humanitarian crisis in Greece unmatched in the post-WWII era.

He predicted that SYRIZA was "one step away from power", saying that elections in Greece will be held in 2014 and would be followed by change, while a SYRIZA government will also inspire change in Europe.

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