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Ireland's political and cultural magazine
18May 2015
T
HE prospect of an alliance of
left-wing, trade-union and
progressive organisations in
advance of the general election
took a tentative step forward
following a meeting hosted by the Com-
munications Workers Union in Dublin
on Mayday.
A gathering of up to political,
trade-union and community activists
heard speakers from the Syriza govern-
ment in Greece and the Spanish social
movement, Podemos, describe how they
have built a progressive alternative to
the traditional conservative and social
democratic parties in their respective
countries.
Syriza activist, Konstantina Tzou-
vala, explained how Syriza grew from
student mobilisations in and
when the main universities were
occupied for over a year and campaigns
against the privatisation of water and
austerity in more recent years. Since its
election the new Syriza-led government
has restored the minimum wage, rein-
stated many public-service positions,
NEWS Left Alliance
Alliance
taking shape
Large Mayday gathering
heard Greek, Spanish and
German experiences.
By Frank Connolly
May 2015 19
ended compulsory HIV testing for drug
addicts and sex workers, released immi-
grants from detention centres and of
course, battled its EU partners over
debt repayments and bailout terms.
In Spain, Podemos, according to Edu-
ardo Maura, has broken the traditional
two-party system in place since the
death of Franco in the mid-s and has
built on the successes of the Indignados
movement in to build a new force
“not left, not right but at the heart of
Spanish politics”.
While some of those present took
exception to his dismissal of traditional
political dividing lines he argued that
the new movement was seeking to build
a social majority and last year secured
. million votes and MEPs in the
European Parliament elections.
Both speakers eloquently described
the crisis of legitimacy in their respec-
tive countries and the “kidnapping of
democracy” by the corrupt elites -
which can only be challenged by a
united movement of the people. The
Syriza activist
who was subjected, arrogantly, to some
patronising criticism by some of the
purer Leftists in the room about her
government’s failure to unilaterally
renege on its debts responded that it
was a promise that was never made by
her party. She accurately identified, and
criticised, the tendency of some on the
Left to indulge in the “fetishism of small
differences” and to behave as the “pro-
fessionals of disagreement” in remarks
that resonated with many of those
present. Berlin Water Movement activ-
ist, Dorothea Haerlin, also spoke.
The meeting included representatives
from the four unions involved in the
campaign against water charges: the
CWU, Mandate, UNITE and the CPSU;
as well as from SIPTU, Sinn Féin, the
Anti-Austerity Alliance, People Before
Profit and other left-wing groups and
think tanks. The general secretary of
the Irish Congress of Trade Unions,
Patricia King, also attended the event
which was formally opened by Congress
president, John Douglas
A number of left-wing independent
TDs including Catherine Murphy, Clare
Daly, Mick Wallace, Thomas Pringle and
Roisin Shorthall were present along
with TDs Mary Lou McDonald, Joe Hig-
gins, Ruth Coppinger and Richard Boyd
Barrett representing their respective
parties.
In a powerfully presented analysis,
economist Michael Taft argued for an
alliance of the Left that could unite pro-
gressive parties and independents,
unions and community activists and
which was based on credible and work-
able policies. Wealth has to be generated
before it is distributed and the provi-
sion of decent public services depends
on the collection of sufficient and fair
taxes to fund them, he argued. Paddy
Mackel of the NIPSA trade union spoke
about the campaign against water
charges and privatisation in the North.
Maynooth university lecturer, Rory
Hearne, delivered a paper on the politi-
cal analysis of the Irish water
movement, while Stephen Nolan of
Trademark addressed the meeting on
“Political Economy: Democratising
Knowledge”.
With over % of voters supporting
parties and candidates standing on Left
policy platforms in , the responsi-
bility of those seeking a progressive
government is to develop a platform of
economic, fiscal, taxation and social
policies which a majority of voters can
support and which can survive the
forensic scrutiny of the right wing par-
ties and the media.
The meeting was presented with a list
of ‘Policy Principles for a Progressive
Irish Government’ which included pro-
posals on water, health, education,
housing, decent work, debt justice and
democratic reform.
All of those present, who were largely
Dublin-based, were asked to consider
the document and submit responses and
proposals on the policies outlined and
any other ideas, before a follow up event
in mid-June.
The participation of activists of
the Left for an afternoon of discussion
on the experiences of progressive move-
ments in Greece and Spain and their
willingness to engage in detailed dis-
cussion on policy proposals which could
form the basis for an agreed election
charter for progressive parties and can-
didates is a positive development.
Hopefully it will be advanced without
“inflating the significance of our
dierences”. •
She criticised
the tendency
of some on
the Left to
indulge in the
“fetishism
of small
differences”
“
