Southern Europe
Protests and strikes signal mounting hostility toward Italian government
By Allison Smith, 1 November 2018
A protest against deteriorating conditions in Rome followed on the heels of a 24-hour “Black Friday” general strike by public sector workers.
European Union and Rome fight over Italian budget
By Marianne Arens, 20 October 2018
In the conflict over the Italian budget, the EU Commission takes the side of the banks, stock exchanges and credit agencies, while the government pursues a course of militarism and attacks on immigrants and workers.
Italian Interior Minister Salvini orders removal of migrants from Riace
By Marianne Arens, 19 October 2018
The right-wing coalition government has ordered the removal of all migrants from the “village of hospitality” in southern Calabria.
Calls grow in Madrid to ban Catalan nationalist parties
By Alejandro López, 11 October 2018
Banning parties that collectively receive millions of votes would mark a major escalation in the drive of the Spanish and European bourgeoisie to establish a police state.
Brutal conditions at Greek refugee camps condemned
By John Vassilopoulos, 9 October 2018
The appalling conditions in Greece refugee camps are a direct consequence of the filthy deal cut between the European Union, Turkey and the Syriza government in 2016.
Campaign grows inside Podemos for alliance with Spanish right
By Alejandro López, 2 October 2018
After figures in the Podemos leadership praised Italy’s far-right government, a movement for nationalism and appeals to right-wing parties is growing inside Podemos.
Italy’s far-right interior minister charged with kidnapping
By Marianne Arens, 30 August 2018
The state attorney in Agrigento is investigating Italy’s interior minister and chairman of the Lega (League), Matteo Salvini, on charges of deprivation of liberty, illegal detention and abuse of office.
Spanish Socialist Party government’s progressive veneer cracks
By Paul Mitchell, 23 August 2018
The PSOE’s programme is austerity for the working class and militarism in the service of Spain’s geo-strategic ambitions.
As Greece exits bailout, EU demands further austerity
By Robert Stevens, 21 August 2018
The conclusion of the bailout is a vote of confidence from financial markets that the pseudo-left Syriza government will continue looting the people to pay off the banks.
At least 35 killed in Italy bridge collapse
By Allison Smith, 15 August 2018
The death toll has reached 35, with at least seven seriously injured and 440 forced to evacuate their homes following a gas leak.
Podemos backs state cover-up in Barcelona terror attack
By Alex Lantier, 9 August 2018
The pseudo-left party is demanding that the Spanish king be allowed to lead this year’s remembrance ceremony.
Portugal: Left Bloc leader resigns over property speculation fortune
By Paul Mitchell, 7 August 2018
The whole episode surrounding Robles reveals, once again, the hypocritical self-seeking nature of the upper middle class constituency that forms the social basis of the pseudo-left.
European Union reduces maritime rescue operations in the Mediterranean
By Martin Kreickenbaum, 26 July 2018
The halting of official rescue operations, like the sabotage of those conducted by private organisations, will lead to a massive rise in fatalities.
Pursuit of rapper Valtònyc reveals widespread censorship in Spain
By Alejandro López, 26 July 2018
The unrelenting pursuit of rapper Josep Miquel Beltrán (stage name Valtònyc) is further evidence of the growing assault on free speech in Spain and throughout Europe.
Josep Valtònyc: “What’s happening to me could happen to anyone.”
By Alejandro López, 26 July 2018
“They put me on trial for telling true, objective facts, and that is because what is happening is scary. People are not going to be able to say what they think about those who are stealing public money from us, money taken out of our wages every month. We have the right to speak out, to criticize, to get angry.”
Spain’s Socialist Party prepares new austerity budget, boosts military spending
By Alejandro López, 19 July 2018
The social democrats’ proposals to slow the pace of austerity reflect fear of a social rebellion by workers and youth amid a growing strike wave in Spain.
Italy strands rescue ship Lifeline as EU refugee summit collapses
By Alex Lantier, 25 June 2018
This is only one of the horrors taking place in Mediterranean waters between Italy and Libya, as the EU moves to block refugee flows.
Podemos: Midwife of Spain’s new PSOE government
By Alejandro López, 22 June 2018
Podemos is an indispensable prop of Spain’s new PSOE government, which is pledged to impose EU austerity on workers and hike military spending.
The anti-worker program of Italy’s new populist and neo-fascist government
By Marc Wells, 1 June 2018
The policies adopted in the new government's program reflect the neo-fascist character of Lega as well as the law-and-order approach of the Five Star Movement.
Italy: Most right-wing government since Mussolini
By Peter Schwarz, 23 May 2018
On Sunday, the protest Five Star Movement (M5S) and the right-wing extremist Lega agreed on a joint government programme.
Rome: Buses explode due to lack of maintenance
By Allison Smith, 15 May 2018
Last year, 22 buses were destroyed by fire in the Italian capital and 2018 is already on track to being far worse, with four bus fires in a single month.
No solution to Italian government crisis
By Marianne Arens, 8 May 2018
The second attempt to form a government failed on May 3 when the leadership of the Democratic Party rejected a coalition with the Five Star Movement.
Explosive social conditions in Spain behind moves toward police state
By Vicky Short, 3 April 2018
Behind the police-state measures being enacted in Spain lie economic, political and social tensions that are also now finding expression in a growing movement of the working class.
Interview with a teacher from Greece: “Teachers have the same problems worldwide”
By Marianne Arens, 2 April 2018
Evangelos, a teacher from Greece working in Germany, expressed his solidarity with teachers in the US and reported on the recent teachers’ strike in Greece.
Spain’s Amazon workers call first ever strike at Madrid hub
By Alejandro López, 19 March 2018
For more than a year, Amazon has been negotiating with the unions to impose a new agreement that would drastically reduce workers’ rights.
Why the far-right won in Italy
By Peter Schwarz, 7 March 2018
Decades of austerity and attacks on democratic rights by the official “left” in Italy, aided and abetted by its pseudo-left apologists, have produced an electoral victory by the far-right parties.
The Italian election alliance Potere al Popolo: A repackaging of pseudo-left politics
By Marianne Arens and Peter Schwarz, 2 March 2018
The driving force behind this new Italian electoral alliance is Rifondazione Comunista, which for many years played a crucial role in stabilising the bourgeois order and suppressing the class struggle.
The Italian elections: A perspective for the working class
By Peter Schwarz, 28 February 2018
All the political problems that confront workers and young people across Europe are expressed in concentrated form in the elections to be held in Italy this Sunday.
Spain: Podemos support plummets after rightward lurch
By Paul Mitchell, 24 February 2018
A major factor in the decline of Podemos has been the experience of workers and middle-class people with the party in numerous town halls and city halls.
New round of attacks across Spain’s auto industry
By Alejandro López and Gabriel Labarthe, 20 February 2018
The auto industry in Spain is utilising the full conversion of plants to produce electric cars, claims of lower expectations of profits last year—combined with threats to move production offshore—to impose attacks on wages and work conditions.
Twenty thousand demonstrate against fascist rampage in Macerata, Italy
By Marianne Arens, 15 February 2018
Some 20,000 protesters, many of them young people, participated in an anti-fascist march through the town of Macerata Saturday.
The working class moves against Greece’s Syriza government
By Alex Lantier, 19 January 2018
The working class is fighting to defend its social and democratic rights against all the organizations that for decades passed for the “far left” of the political establishment.
Greek workers stop work in opposition to Syriza anti-strike and austerity measures
By Robert Stevens, 13 January 2018
Strikes shut down the Athens rail system, ships were unable to sail, and state-run hospitals were forced to rely on reserve staff.
Spanish PM Rajoy seeks to prevent Catalan nationalists from forming government
By Alejandro López and Paul Mitchell, 10 January 2018
The Supreme Court is planning to issue writs against a further 11 people linked to the deposed Catalan government for their part in organising last October’s independence referendum.
Italian election campaign officially opens
By Peter Schwarz, 30 December 2017
Italian President Sergio Matarella dissolved parliament on Thursday, opening campaigning for the election which will take place in the first week of March.
Italy’s “Black Wave” of neo-fascist attacks
By Marianne Arens and Peter Schwarz, 14 December 2017
Around 10,000 demonstrators protested last Saturday in the northern Italian city of Como against the “Black Wave”, the increase of neo-fascist attacks throughout the country.
Tens of thousands protest in Catalonia against moves towards authoritarian rule in Spain
By Alex Lantier, 9 November 2017
Tens of thousands of people protested yesterday in Catalonia against the detention of Catalan nationalist politicians as political prisoners by Madrid.
Deposed Catalan premier hands himself in to Belgian police
By Alex Lantier, 6 November 2017
Criticisms of Spain’s handling of the Catalan crisis from within European ruling circles reflect concerns that Madrid’s actions could provoke explosive popular opposition.
Catalan premier appeals to EU as opposition mounts to Madrid’s crackdown
By Alex Lantier, 1 November 2017
Puigdemont asked the EU to broker a deal between the Spanish government and the Catalan authorities based on the December 21 election imposed on Catalonia by Madrid.
EU backs Madrid’s imposition of authoritarian regime in Catalonia
By Francis Dubois, 31 October 2017
Fearing the eruption of mass struggles against austerity, the European financial oligarchy is backing the imposition of an authoritarian regime in Catalonia.
Catalan Premier Puigdemont flees to Belgium as Spain asserts direct rule over Catalonia
By Alejandro López, 30 October 2017
The Catalan nationalist parties are bitterly hostile to a political intervention in the crisis by the working class.
Catalonia announces plan for independence as Madrid threatens military rule
By Alejandro López, 26 October 2017
Madrid’s turn toward military dictatorship in Catalonia and across Spain is intended to strangle popular opposition to the European Union and the banks.
Catalan government in turmoil over Spain’s suppression of autonomy
By Paul Mitchell, 24 October 2017
The anti-democratic measures imposed under Article 155 are leading to a violent conflict with the Catalan population.
Move to Spanish military rule in Catalonia exposes bankruptcy of Podemos
By Alejandro López and Alex Lantier, 24 October 2017
Despite winning 5 million votes, Podemos neither wanted nor sought to mobilize opposition to the turn to authoritarian rule by Madrid, backed by the European Union.
Investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia murdered in Malta
By Richard Tyler, 21 October 2017
Galizia was well known for her exposures of corruption and criminality at the top of Maltese politics and business.
200,000 protest jailing of Catalonian nationalist leaders in Barcelona
By Paul Mitchell, 19 October 2017
The jailing of Jordi Sànchez and Jordi Cuixart marks the first incarceration of Spanish political prisoners since the end of the fascist dictatorship of General Francisco Franco.
Jailing of separatist leaders sparks protest demonstrations in Catalonia
By Alejandro López and Paul Mitchell, 18 October 2017
The High Court ruling is an indication of the dictatorial measures the Spanish Popular Party regime is prepared to carry out.
Madrid rejects Puigdemont’s call for talks in Catalan referendum crisis
By Alex Lantier and Alejandro López, 17 October 2017
With Spanish military forces and thousands of police preparing for action, Spain is teetering on the brink of martial law and a bloody crackdown in Catalonia.
Deadline looms for Catalonia to confirm or deny independence declaration
By Alejandro López, 16 October 2017
The secessionists led by Catalonia’s regional premier Carles Puigdemont have spent the past week seeking to strike a deal with Madrid, but no deal is on offer.
Spain moves toward military rule in Catalonia
By Alex Lantier, 12 October 2017
As the Spanish army prepared to deploy armored units to Catalonia, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy announced plans to suspend the Catalan regional government.
Podemos’ call for dialogue on Catalonia: A political trap with deadly consequences
By Paul Mitchell, 12 October 2017
With calls for ‘patriotism’ and national unity, the pseudo-left Podemos is seeking recognition as a potential saviour of Spanish capitalism at a time of acute crisis.
Catalan premier affirms right to independence from Spain, but delays formal declaration
By Alex Lantier, 11 October 2017
Regional premier Carles Puigdemont delivered his speech amid an unfolding Spanish military and police intervention into Catalonia and the looming threat of a bloody crackdown.
Spain's Popular Party threatens repression if Catalan authorities declare independence
By Alejandro López, 10 October 2017
Popular Party leaders warned Monday that national police and civil guards are ready to halt any unilateral declaration in the Catalan parliament.
As Spanish crackdown looms, France’s New Anti-capitalist Party promotes Catalan nationalism
By Alex Lantier, 10 October 2017
Rather than advance a principled policy to unite the Spanish and Catalan working class against Spanish state repression, the Pabloite New Anti-capitalist Party is lining up behind the Catalan bourgeoisie.
Spanish government sends troops to Catalonia
By Paul Mitchell, 5 October 2017
The Ministry of Defense has dispatched army units to support the Civil Guard and national police in a possible further crackdown on the Catalonian population.
Defenders of imperialist “human rights” hail Spanish government’s crackdown in Catalonia
By Chris Marsden, 4 October 2017
The United States and the EU leapt to the defence of the Spanish government as it sent police to savagely beat and arrest anyone who dared to exercise their fundamental right to vote.
Spanish king demands new crackdown in Catalonia
By Alex Lantier, 4 October 2017
An open intervention by the Spanish king into public affairs is without precedent since the 1981 coup attempt in Spain.
Hundreds of thousands protest Madrid’s repression in Catalonia
By Alejandro López, 4 October 2017
Demonstrations took place in cities across Catalonia amid a “national work stoppage” backed by Catalan business groups, separatist parties, and trade unions.
EU hands Spain blank check for stepped-up police repression in Catalonia
By Alex Lantier and Alejandro López, 3 October 2017
After the mass repression in Catalonia Sunday, the European Commission issued a statement formally endorsing Madrid's handling of the Catalan independence crisis.
Millions defy brutal crackdown by Spanish police to vote in Catalan referendum
By Alejandro López and Alex Lantier, 2 October 2017
The Popular Party government of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy sent some 16,000 police to Catalonia to shut down polling stations, seize ballot boxes and attack voters.
Oppose the state crackdown on the Catalan independence referendum!
For working class unity! No to separatism in Spain!
Statement of the International Committee of the Fourth International, 30 September 2017
On the eve of the October 1 independence referendum in Catalonia, Spain is in the throes of its deepest political crisis since the fall of the fascist Franco regime.
Catalan secession crisis: Alongside Rajoy, Trump calls for a united Spain
By Paul Mitchell, 29 September 2017
The American ruling elite, like its European counterparts, are concerned the tensions between Madrid and Barcelona are provoking an explosive situation.
Spain’s crackdown on the Catalan secessionist referendum: Podemos looks for its “Syriza moment”
By Alejandro López, 29 September 2017
Podemos is presenting itself as the only alternative able to resolve the Catalan secessionist crisis without sparking social opposition.
Poverty, inequality on the rise in Spain as independence vote looms
By James Lerner, 26 September 2017
The growth in poverty and inequality is the intended product of the policies of the Spanish, Catalan, and European bourgeoisie.
Spanish government dispatches police reinforcements to Catalonia
By Paul Mitchell, 23 September 2017
Demonstrations continued in Catalonia yesterday as Madrid reinforced its police presence in the Eastern region.
Barcelona dockworkers boycott Spanish police ships sent against Catalan referendum
By Alejandro López, 22 September 2017
Dockworkers in Catalonia’s two main ports, Barcelona and Tarragona, are refusing supply services to vessels carrying riot police and paramilitary Civil Guard units.
Spanish police raid Catalan government buildings, arrest officials
By Paul Mitchell, 21 September 2017
Powerful sections of the Spanish ruling class are demanding that the Popular Party government crack down harder to block the October 1 Catalan independence referendum.
Spain threatens potential military takeover of Catalonia as referendum looms
By Alejandro López, 18 September 2017
Madrid’s inflammatory language and actions recall the thuggery of the Francoist dictatorship that ruled Spain from 1939 to 1978.
Greece: Syriza touts for investors and fêtes Macron
By Katerina Selin, 18 September 2017
The Greek parliamentary summer is over. In the weeks and months ahead a new round of cuts will begin, which will lead to fierce class battles.
Hundreds of thousands march in Catalonia as Madrid aims to block independence referendum
By Paul Mitchell, 12 September 2017
The march came amid an explosive political crisis in Spain, as Madrid mobilizes police and the courts to try to block the independence referendum.
Macron goes to Greece: “Radical left” Tsipras welcomes ex-banker turned French president
By Alex Lantier, 12 September 2017
Macron traveled to Greece to hail the austerity measures imposed by the Syriza (“Coalition of the Radical Left”) government, which show the future for the workers of France.
Spain deploys police as interior minister claims Barcelona terror cell dismantled
By Alejandro López, 21 August 2017
It is not credible to claim that the forces that organized the attack escaped the attention of the intelligence services.
Pseudo-left Popular Unity Candidacy campaigns for Catalan separatism
By Alejandro López, 17 August 2017
Last week, the Catalan pseudo-left separatist Popular Unity Candidacy launched its campaign for the referendum on Catalan independence from Spain planned for October 1.
Divisions mount in Spain’s Podemos as Catalan independence referendum looms
By Alejandro López, 24 July 2017
From its creation Podemos has been an amalgam of forces with opposing views on regional nationalism.
Syriza offers big business mega-profits in Greece
By John Vassilopoulos, 18 July 2017
Nothing is to be allowed that prevents the financial oligarchy from plundering Greece’s assets and stepping up the exploitation of an already pauperised workforce.
Italian local elections see defeat of Renzi’s Democratic Party
By Marianne Arens, 1 July 2017
With turnout below 50 percent, the election result is a huge vote of no confidence in the governing Democratic Party and the entire so-called centre-left camp.
Syriza government in Greece passes more austerity
By John Vassilopoulos, 13 June 2017
The bill includes measures designed to facilitate mass sackings as well as further sell-offs of public assets.
Greek workers mount one-day strike against EU austerity package
By Alex Lantier, 18 May 2017
Workers mobilized Wednesday across Greece in a strike called by the trade unions against new austerity measures being imposed by the Syriza government.
Sánchez aims to save Spain’s Socialist Party from collapse
By Alejandro López, 17 May 2017
The faction backing Sánchez represents sections of the ruling class seeking to preserve the PSOE from being destroyed, like its social democratic counterparts in Greece and France.
Hundreds of migrants drown in Mediterranean
By Bill Van Auken, 9 May 2017
The deaths occurred during a spike in crossings spurred in part by a planned crackdown that would send migrants back to hellish conditions in Libya.
Spain: Architect of 1936 Franco uprising reinterred with full military honours
By Alejandro López, 26 April 2017
While the army, the Church and the PP call on the victims of fascism to forget and move on, they secretly glorify and pay homage to the fascist coup plotters.
Small turnouts for Podemos-led demonstrations in Spain
By Alejandro López, 11 April 2017
The pseudo-left party has come into ever more open conflict with the working class and youth, even as it steadily acquires lucrative positions in the capitalist state.
Spanish dockworkers threaten to strike
By Alejandro López, 24 February 2017
Dockers are facing a savage attack on their working conditions by the Popular Party-led government, port companies and the European Union.
Pablo Iglesias re-elected as Podemos general secretary at Vistalegre II congress
By Alejandro López, 13 February 2017
Pablo Iglesias won the internal leadership contest yesterday, amid a bitter faction fight pitting his supporters against those of former Political Secretary Íñigo Errejón.
EU summit approves sealing off the Mediterranean from refugees
By Martin Kreickenbaum, 6 February 2017
As European governments hypocritically denounce Trump’s anti-immigrant measures, the EU is planning to build up the Libyan coastguard and establish internment camps in North Africa to keep out refugees.
Spanish media promote Anticapitalistas’ and Podemos’ “back to the streets” campaign
By Alejandro López, 4 January 2017
The aim of the campaign is to trap escalating social anger behind Podemos and block the emergence of a politically independent struggle of the working class for socialism.
Paolo Gentiloni named as new Italian prime minister
By Marianne Arens, 13 December 2016
At the head of a transitional government, Gentiloni will continue the policies of his predecessor Matteo Renzi, particularly in dealing with the massive banking and debt crisis.
Italian Prime Minister Renzi resigns after defeat in constitutional referendum
By Alex Lantier and Mark Wells, 5 December 2016
The vote on Renzi’s referendum, which was rejected by a margin of 59 to 41 percent, expresses growing opposition to the institutions of European and world capitalism.
Vote no on the Italian constitutional referendum!
By Joint statement of the Socialist Equality Party (Britain), Parti de l'égalité Socialiste (France) and Partei für Soziale Gleichheit (Germany), 3 December 2016
The referendum would give the prime minister virtually unchecked powers to impose his party's agenda, in a major step towards authoritarian forms of rule.
EU fears ‘no’ vote in Italian referendum
By Marianne Arens, 28 November 2016
The constitutional reform, a step toward authoritarian rule, is the key element of the program of Prime Minister Renzi.
Over 300 refugees drown in Mediterranean
By Martin Kreickenbaum, 19 November 2016
Turning refugees away from Europe’s coasts and leaving them to drown in the Mediterranean is a crime that exposes the EU’s true brutality.
Trump’s election as seen from Europe
By Alex Lantier, 19 November 2016
Well before the content of Trump’s foreign policy has come into focus, it is clear that his election marks a historic shift in world affairs, raising the specter of global conflict.
Greek protests greet Obama’s last overseas tour as US president
By Alex Lantier, 16 November 2016
Obama aimed to reassure the European ruling classes that Donald Trump's election would not undermine their relations with the United States.
Syriza agrees to further austerity measures
By John Vassilopoulos, 18 October 2016
European Union commissioner Pierre Moscovici praised Syriza’s “tremendous work” in imposing all the attacks demanded against the working class.
Syriza government assaults Greek retirees
By Katerina Selin, 5 October 2016
On Monday, the Greek government mobilised the police to attack protesting retirees.
Spanish Socialist Party coup exposes Podemos
By Paul Mitchell and Alex Lantier, 4 October 2016
Podemos’ perspective was to form a government with the Socialist Party, which is now working to bring a right-wing government to power in Spain.
Spanish Socialist Party leader resigns to allow formation of right-wing government
By Alejandro López, 3 October 2016
The success of the inner-party putsch against Pedro Sánchez underscores how the ruling class uses parties like the Socialist Party (PSOE) to impose unpopular policies.
Italian Prime Minister Renzi announces constitutional referendum for December
By Marianne Arens, 1 October 2016
The referendum is a step towards authoritarian forms of rule and lays the basis for fierce attacks on Italian workers.
Push to install right-wing Spanish government splits Socialist Party
By Alejandro López and Alex Lantier, 30 September 2016
On Wednesday, half of the Spanish Socialist Party’s Federal Executive resigned, launching an inner-party putsch aiming to force the installation of a right-wing government.
Lesbos fire highlights tragic situation of refugees in Greece
By John Vassilopoulos, 27 September 2016
Around 60 percent of the camp was destroyed, including sleeping tents and clothing supplies.
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