In European news, renewed protests across the continent over governmental austerity plans reveal working class frustrations. In Greece, where IMF sanctions have exacted a heavy toll many workers, another 24 hour strike of public servants was carried out. News of pension cuts, extra taxation, wage cuts, and elevated retirement ages have hit many in Europe hard. Symbolically, literally, only Romanian President Basescu even offers a crumb to distraught civil servants – all Europe’s other leaders stand silent amid horrendous austerity plans.
From Bulgaria to Spain, even in Austria and more typically insulated republics, government austerity programs are clearly not in line with what anyone would call “the will of the people.” Strikes all across Europe, basically over the same issues, signal an almost unparalleled period of unrest potentially. Greece in particular seems unable to gather itself with the strikes, slumping tourism, talks of deals with China to rescue debt, no real course set for recovery. That country is reeling obviously. And, despite reports to the contrary, Spain and others seem perilously close behind.
Bulgaria, Macedonia, protest emerging in the news from places seldom heard of in mainstream media. 10,000 workers gathered in Bulgaria’s capital of Sofia to protest the government’s proposal to raise the retirement age from 60 to 65. What is interesting here, at least for this writer, is that EU governments seem to be watching these events as a measure for enacting still greater austerity plans – sort of testing the “people’s ire” to gauge how far they can go. Of course that is a theory, but it seems valid somehow. Across Europe, one country after another seems to fall victim to the same measures.
Where Are the Leaders When the People Need?
In Macedonia, more than 2,000 police officers marched through the capital of Skopje in outrage over changes to their retirement. Those officers are supposed to be able to retire after 40 years of service no matter what age they are. And in Romania, the national parliament has already passed measures that would equal at best a sort of gender inequality. If President Trajan Basescu refused to sign the law (even on a technicality), the thought of outright civil war could not have been ruled out. Romania’s Army officers and enlisted personnel, on top of millions of other civil servants, were to pay sacrificial lambs in that debauchery.
Other European leaders can take a lesson from Basescu on this one. Whether influenced by his love for his people, or fear of them, Basescu at least has their pulse in his hands – even searching for minute technicality is a better plan than steamrolling the people. As for Greek, Spanish, and other leaders here – obviously the pulse of their rich constituents seems stronger at the moment.
Image of previous tensions this year in Bulgaria
The IMF Versus the People
A larger question exists in all this actually. With the The IMF is expected to start a review mission to Bucharest in a few days, not many have considered or commented on their part in all this austerity strife. Sure the IMF should be concerned with weights and balances, but the figures and their human counterparts cannot actually be separated – now can they? Bankers. Let me say that again, Bankers. Now take a look at the tension going on between bankers (like the IMF) and elected officials (the pulse people).
European leaders, feeling the pressure, are poised to snatch some of the billions needed for recovery right back from bankers and the IMF. Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn is all over the news whining and warning governments not to use their currencies as “weapons” – or more precisely tax banking institutions correctly. The European Commission says banks are actually under taxed, and the EU’s loosely formulated plan to “properly” levy them would raise €25bn.
Looking at all this positioning and posturing, it is fairly easy to see where these austerity plans came from in the first place. The IMF exacts a toll on Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Spain, Macedonia, all the rest – demanding measures to insure this and that. Meanwhile bankers like those at Goldman Sachs help governments like that of Greece cheat – bankers feed on bankers, the economy fails – and bankers squeeze the people for more. I wonder, having reported on this, does that pretty much sum it all up? Oh, one more thing.
How does the IMF think Greek or any people will get back up with a banker’s foot on their throats?
New strikes in Greece with no end in sight
About Phil Butler
