Standing united in Portugal against austerity: Tsipras, Soares and Bloco de Esquerda

Published on Friday, 02 May 2014 13:28

During a rally organized on April 26, 2014 by the Party of the European Left, with the support of the Left Bloc (Bloco de Esquerda), Marisa Matias said--referencing the Carnation Revolution, that "we need the energy of April in the May elections." The event, which took place at Cinema Batalha, Porto, included Catarina Martins-also of Left Bloc, and Alexis Tsipras, the leader of SYRIZA and candidate for President of the European Commission, who argued that "it is urgent to push back against the politics of Mrs. Merkel to recover Europe."

Tsipras and Matias, along with fellow Left Bloc leader João Semedo, met with Mário Soares, the former Prime Minister and President of Portugal, and important political personality. Discussing the need for a new path for Europe, Tsipras emphasized that, “the only way to stop the crisis is to end austerity and restore democracy in Europe."

"The situation has deteriorated, not only in Greece and Portugal, but also in Italy and Spain, and now we are facing a humanitarian crisis in our countries," said the candidate of the European Left for President the European Commission.

He continued, "European citizens must vote against the political forces that support austerity in our countries. A win for the Left in Greece—which would be an historic first—is likely to trigger a "domino effect in Europe."

A win could also spell movement on Tsipras’ call for a European debt conference: "There is no alternative but to try to renegotiate our debt together similarly to what occurred in London in 1953, where the debts of Germany after World War II were largely forgiven. This would not only be good for indebted countries, but for all of Europe and is the only realistic way out."

Mario Soares expressed confidence that SYRIZA would be the next government in Greece. In response to Tsipras stating, "We will need alliances," to put an end to the policies of austerity plagueing Europe, Mario Soares noted that, "You can count on me," and assured Tsipras, "We will do everything we can to this end."

Tsipras shared his message with the welcoming crowds at the Batalha Cinema, also in Porto. Paying tribute to the Carnation Revolution and the solidarity between Greece and Portugal, Tsipras called on all to support the Left in its quest to oust those who are responsible for the crisis, for the destruction of social cohesion and who implement austerity policies. Calling on all European citizens to vote in the upcoming European elections, Tsipras made clear that the elections are not simply about voting for a new group of MEP’s; "We’re voting for our lives and our future."

Video from esquerda.net