Syriza, Podemos, Democracy in Europe Movement, all playing the same game, a losing game, trying to come to a favourable deal with the financial Mafia, that might marginally favour the people. That's not what the game is about, it is about plundering the people to the advantage of the financial Mafia and their cohorts, the corporate world. Governments must be compliant, or they will be minced and flushed down the tubes of history. We have the evidence, it is writ large in our history.
This f
rom International Journal of Socialist Renewal, On Greece, Syriza, Podemos and the Democracy in Europe Movement – Yanis Varoufakis interview in El Mundo
Did the European leaders press Tsipras to get rid from you?
Jeroen Dijsselbloem, the president of the Eurogroup of finances
ministers, has admitted that he did so…
They knew that I would never sign up to a new non-viable, toxic loan
agreement. That was clear from the beginning. I was elected to negotiate
a viable agreement. And since it is the finance minister who signs
these agreements on behalf of the state, it was essential to the troika
that I should be removed.
Why do you think you are so uncomfortable (and considered even dangerous) for the EU leaders?
Because I was an obstacle to the maintenance of their permanent denial regarding their failed fiscal reform programs.
What has been your major mistake during the time you were Greece Finance Minister?
To believe that the troika would honour the spirit and the letter of the
20th February Eurogroup agreement. It was on the basis of that false
belief that I signed, a few days later, the application for an
extension to the previous loan agreement.
Some people blame you for the painful turn of the Greek situation during the first Syriza Government. Are you guilty?
If there was a painful turn due to our policies, I would of course be
responsible (as the finance minister in charge). However, even Eurostat
confirms that, during my 5 months in office, real national income in
fact rose. The damage came right at the end of my ministry. And it did
not come from some policy that I implemented. It came because the troika
ruthlessly closed down Greece’s banks in order to force upon the Prime
Minister further reductions in pensions, greater taxes for consumers and
companies etc. And afterwards they blamed the damage they caused on…
me. (Typical of bullies who blame the victim for her/his victimization.)
What was the most disappointed/surprising/unbelieving thing that you learned about politics while you were minister?
That Europe’s finance ministers make decisions at the Eurogroup on the
basis of precisely no detailed information. And that their
deliberations, before these crucial decisions are taken, are conducted
under perfect secrecy, without any minutes being taken. Citizens, in
other words, will never get to know what their representative said, or
how she/he voted, on their behalf. Ever!
(My emphasis)
Isn’t it true that one of the main reasons Europe treated Greece
in a such hard way was to try to prevent the growth of Podemos in
Spain?
Of course.----------
Read the full interview
HERE:
Visit ann arky's home at
www.radicalglasgow.me.uk