Elections

The left in Greece offers no prospects for the working class

Submitted by World Revolution on

After June’s election in Greece, President Obama hailed the result as an opportunity for a new government to “continue on the path of reform and do so in a way that also offers the prospects for the Greek people to succeed and prosper.” This has a very hollow ring as the new coalition is politically little different to the coalition that ruled from last November to the elections in May.

You can’t fight austerity through elections!

Submitted by ICConline on

After the replacement of President Sarkozy by Hollande in France, and the electoral slump of the parties of the outgoing Greek government, a commentator in the Guardian (8/5/12) was not alone in declaring that “Revolt against austerity is sweeping Europe.”In reality, whatever the level of dissatisfaction felt at election time, the ruling bourgeoisie will continue to impose and intensify its policies of austerity. Voting against governments can happen because of the depth of discontent, but it doesn’t change anything. For the working class it’s only through the mass organisation of its struggles that anything can be achieved.

Change of Regime in West Bengal: A mystification of Change!

Submitted by ICConline on

Quite a significant part of the various sectors of the population in West Bengal, seems to be agog with the possibility of change. They are celebrating the decisive electoral defeat of the ruling leftist combine and the landslide victory of the rightist combine. But it has failed to mystify and befool each and everyone. A significant part of the population has not at all been moved by this propaganda of change. A lot of young people who have been eligible to vote for the first time have refused to cast their votes.

Ireland: all the politicians agree on the need for austerity

Submitted by World Revolution on

Political pundits are predicting meltdown for Fianna Fail at the Irish general election. Whatever the result, all four of the main political parties in Ireland voted through the austerity measures required to get the €85 billion bail-out from the IMF and the EU. Whatever party or parties forms the next government, it will have little room for manoeuvre.

Does the Working-Class Vote Against Its Own Interests?

Submitted by ICConline on

 Part of the media campaign surrounding the mid-term election results in the US has been a revisiting of the theme of the supposed “conservatism” of the working class in the US. According to many bourgeois analysts of the left, the Republican victories in the Mid-Term elections were largely the result of white working class voters deserting the Democrats in droves and voting for Republicans and the Tea Party.

Against the trap of capitalist elections

Submitted by World Revolution on

When workers are faced with unemployment, wage cuts and harsher working conditions, the question is posed of how workers' struggles can develop. With a  UK general election round the corner, the media tell us that this is an opportunity to use our democratic rights. However, democracy is not an abstract principle,  it is an integral part of the current order of things.

SWP dragging workers to the polling booths

Submitted by World Revolution on

When a general election comes around leftist groups are put in an embarrassing position. Typically they call themselves ‘socialist' or ‘revolutionary' and, as part of their basic function, criticise the Labour Party, whether in government of opposition. The problem they have at election time is how to retain their ‘radical' credentials while taking part in the whole circus.

Editorial: Class struggle, not the vote, will decide humanity's future

Submitted by International Review on

All the forces of the bourgeoisie, the left, the right, the far right and the extreme left, not to mention the trades unions, all came together in the grand electoral orchestra, whether in France and Holland for the referendums on the European constitution, for the parliamentary elections in Britain, or the Länder elections in North Rhine-Westphalia (Germany's most heavily-populated region).

All the election parties serve the capitalist state

Submitted by World Revolution on

Never has distrust for politicians been so widespread. Never has ‘apathy’ about the democratic process been so strong. The political parties, from right to left, are getting more and more anxious about this. They are desperately trying to convince us that we must do our duty as ‘citizens’ and get involved in the coming round of national and local elections. They are particularly concerned about the younger generation.

Labour can't make it better

Submitted by World Revolution on

As the phoney election campaign runs into the real one we will hear more and more from the government about its economic achievements. Blair has already launched six new pledges to make the country fairer, safer, healthier and with no unwelcome foreigners.

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