When European leaders meet today to decide austerity plans they want to impose to Greece first, and then to all Europe with the international agreement « Merkozy », Belgian workers – from the private and public sectors – organise a general strike against austerity of the programme of public finances, proposed by the government which saves big fortunes but attacks the unemployed, for which the allocations evolve towards the strict minimum, with figures that are too low to live by and without distinguishing their efforts made or their employability, as well as with regards to older workers and women.

The Party of European left fully supports the general strike, that had not taken place since at least 20 years, and which is sending a clear signal of rejection of austerity. With their claims, the Belgian employees also express other ways to end the crisis that European leaders would do well to consider, starting with the government Di Rupo.

The choices made now by the EU are at odds with popular aspirations, and serious political and economic mistakes, that leads to years of recession and crisis.

For the ELP, it is time to take the evil at its root, that implies democratically controlled banks, starting with the ECB, which must play its role as central bank and finance social development rather than speculation. And we must end the competition between workers and destruction of their rights in the name of competitiveness: only cooperation, increase of wages and social protection will allow an exit from the crisis

Party of the European Left

Brussels, 30 January 2011