Heinz Bierbaum: "There will be no alternative without the democratization of financial market"

The European Left has alternatives and concrete proposals. “To democratize the European Union it is necessary to begin with the democratization of the financial market, because without that it is not possible to do another politics in Europe” exposed Heinz Bierbaum, responsible for Die Linke International politics and member of the EL Executive Board. He summed up the three essential points for the political alternative.

The first is the democratic control of the financial sector and the role of the European Central Bank, which plays a political role at the service of power, rather than an economic role. The second is the increase in salaries and social rights, along with other fiscal policy that tax to the rich and the great fortunes. And the third is based on public investment in order to stimulate the economy and create jobs, in addition to the  maintenance and improvement of public services.

"This is a very important and necessary issue that should be at the centre of the debate of the left" said the Die Linke leader, who emphasized the necessity to build an Alliance of the left as wide as possible with social movements, trade unions and political parties.

"The balance of power is not favorable to the left, not only because of the grand coalition such as that governing in Germany, but because of an extreme right which is very strong. A divided left has no possibility to make  another policy". He emphasized that a strong left, as broad as possible, is the only way  to build the Europe of the people, a social, democratic and peaceful Europe versus the Europe of the Euro.

Deepening in this idea of unity of the left as the only exit, the vice president of the EL, Maite Mola, ask for not trivialize things, explaining that it is not true that a force like Podemos may win the forthcoming elections in Spain, to be held at the end of December. She recalled that in order to govern in Spain, the 30% of the votes is required, not the 12 or 18% that Podemos may have according the polls and insisted that the only solution is the Popular Unity.

"We will fight together to reach the union of the left to get power in Spain, to be able to influence and help Greece. The left should work together, in the streets and in the institutions, in Spain, in France and everywhere". And she spoke of the Statal Assembly of "Ahora en Común” (Now in Common), that was held in Spain that same day to try to build a program and common targets for the elections. A successful work of popular unity that managed to snatch the bipartisanship in some of the main cities such as Madrid, Barcelona and Zaragoza.

Anne Sabourin, PCF and EL  Executive Board, spoke about the big alliance that exists to prevent the change, but also on “movements that profoundly mark the hopes for change". Among them, "the bursting among philosophers, thinkers, economists, politicians, activists who want to build a social Europe". She also reminded the Forum of the Alternatives held this year in Paris which assembled the anti-austerity forces, not only to denounce the situation but to discuss on how to build a social, democratic and anti-neoliberal European project, a Forum that will continue because "we have the challenge of changing Europe".