L'Humanité in English

An Entirely New Page in History

Henry Crapo — 2012-05-15T08:18:06Z

It is an event. It is equal in importance to the result of the presidential election in France. In certain respects, even more important. Because, in Greece, as in France, the politics of austerity have been disavowed. But in Greece, the ballot boxes placed our party in second place in the electoral returns, with 16.8% of those voting, cleanly outstripping the Pasok socialists. One of our comrades, Alexis Tsipras, thirty-eight years of age, has been given the task of forming a government. (...) - Politics / Elections, Greece

Money, this Imposture!

Henry Crapo — 2012-05-11T15:02:07Z

Money always has a special odor. It is not the simple instrument of exchange that it pretends to be. Because all the societies that use money are societies based on class, and thus are systems of domination of some over others. These societies have hardened. Because the birth of money has made possible an accumulation of riches beyond the bounds of its immediate material reality. Money has made it possible to defer actual exchange. Money causes desires and the objects that arouse those (...) - Society / Money

Greece: Syriza Passes Hand; PASOK to Attempt Formation of Government

Gene Zbikowski — 2012-05-11T15:00:35Z

Alixis Tsipras, the leader of Syriza, remitted President Carolos Papoulias' mandate to form a government on May 10. Papoulias has asked Evangelos Venizelos, of PASOK, the Greek Socialist Party, to attempt to form a governing majority from the deputies elected in the May 6 legislative elections. Alexis Tsipras, whose anti-austerity left-wing coalition came in second in the elections, explains his inability to form a government as due to the fact that “our proposal won broad backing in (...) - World / Elections, Greece

What Happened to Ecology?

Henry Crapo — 2012-05-11T12:10:49Z

To speak up about Ecology, has this become a thing of the past? Ecology has disappeared under the radar, and this became even more flagrant these past two weeks, during the second round of the presidential election. For the two finalists in the presidential campaign, it was both voluntary and admitted, this forgetfulness, and the debate on 2 May was a perfect illustration. Not a word concerning the climate crisis, biodiversity, pollution, or its consequences for people's health. Ecology was (...) - Politics / Ecology

Greece: Possible Scenarios And Hope On The Left

Gene Zbikowski — 2012-05-10T15:56:46Z

The formation of a coalition government following the legislative elections seems impossible. Despite the resounding success of the anti-free trade capitalism left, the KKE (Greek Communist Party) does not want to negotiate with the other progressive parties, whereas Syriza has just been asked to form a government. Alixis Tsipras, the leader of the left-wing coalition Syriza, has three days to form a coalition government. The anti-austerity and progressive left-wing coalition, whose member (...) - World / Elections, Greece

The 6 Lessons of the 6th of May

Henry Crapo — 2012-05-10T00:24:21Z

Rejection of Sarkozysm, failure of the swerve to the right by the UMP [1], its sanction by voters of all social categories, the mobilization of the "people of the left", the strength of the urban vote, and a little story from Marseille: what we learn from the second round of the presidential election. 1. The Referendum on Sarkozysm. As usual, the second round saw an increase in participation, accompanied this time by ... a decrease in valid votes for candidates: 500,000 more voters, but a (...) - Politics

Greece: Syriza, History of a Left Coalition With the Wind in Its Sails

Gene Zbikowski — 2012-05-09T21:07:50Z

Athens, by our special correspondent. Syriza, with 16.78% of the vote and 52 seats, is the second-strongest force in the Vouli, the Hellenic Parliament. The final results published by the Greek Interior Ministry brook no debate. Syriza, the left coalition, has come in number two in these elections. The alliance, which brings together different radical left parties, and whose main member is Synaspimos, has made the most progress. Alexis Tsipras, its leader, has pulled off a master stroke: (...) - World / Elections, Greece

After being sworn in, François Hollande has plenty to attend to

Charlotte Foyle — 2012-05-09T21:03:15Z

The intense atmosphere of the presidential campaign and the victory of the socialist party's candidate with 51.62% of the votes against Nicholas Sarkozy's 48.38% leaves the way clear for the handover of power, which was arranged on Monday morning. After all the celebrations and the excitement, the socialist party now has to plan for the assumption of power for the president-elect. The Constitutional Council has to officially validate the results published by the interior minister by this (...) - Politics / France, Presidential elections

Exclusive! KKE Refuses to Meet With Syriza

Gene Zbikowski — 2012-05-09T09:56:05Z

Athens, from our special correspondent. The Central Committee of the KKE, the Greek Communist Party, has refused to meet with the leader of the Syriza coalition, made up of different left formations including Synaspismos [1]. The Greek President has charged Alexis Tsipras, the leader of the coalition that came in second in the May 6 legislative elections, with forming a government. The party that came in first, New Democracy (ND), led by Antonis Samaras, has failed to form a government. (...) - World

Vassilis Moulopoulos: “An Alliance on the Left is Needed.”

Gene Zbikowski — 2012-05-08T21:29:40Z

Interview with the deputy for Athens, who is a member of the Syriza party. The economic crisis has completely redefined Greek politics. According to the opinion polls, Syriza will get at least 10% of the vote. What's your take on these developments? Vassilis Moulopoulos. Pasok and New Democracy, the two parties which have governed in the course of the past 40 years, are collapsing. This upheaval, which will probably be confirmed on May 6, is going to accelerate after May 6. That's why they (...) - World / Elections, Greece