(en) France, Alternative Libertaire AL #251 - Yannis
Androulidakis (Greek anarcho-syndicalist): "The policy does not change
by Governments" (fr, it, pt) [machine translation]
Yannis Androulidakis, the anarcho-syndicalist Initiative Rocinante, talks about the
political and social situation in Greece, Syriza government and the state of social and
Greek anarchist movement. ---- What is the overall political climate since the election of
Syriza, what measures have been taken and how to qualify their policy? ---- Yannis
Androulidakis: In the beginning, we have witnessed a great surge of enthusiasm of a part
of society, but this is mainly based on the defeat of the odious government Samaras (right
coalition of national union / socialist) and some spectacular communication actions by the
Finance Minister Yannis Varoufakis. ---- But it only took a few weeks to check that the
policy is not changed by governments.
Once the agreement concluded on 20 February with the Eurogroup , the coalition government
has accepted the extension of the austerity program. The ancient right executives and
socialist resume their seats in the state apparatus and Syriza has indeed abandoned its
"Thessaloniki agenda", said "social salvation" which was already nothing more than aspirin
against cancer.
Killings of refugees continue border and no previous government austerity measures has
been withdrawn.
Can we speak of a cessation Syriza since coming to power in relation to its election program?
Yannis Androulidakis: Absolutely. But we must say that Syriza had already given up after
the 2012 elections, as it rose from 4.5% to 27% of the vote. The slogan "No sacrifice for
the euro" was dropped and all his speech referred to the agreement with the EU partners.
For our part we said that social reversal would not come from any government whatsoever,
and that we should rely on our struggles. It is not a question of good or bad faith of
governments, it is the very structure of a society based on capitalist domination.
This is the organized working class and struggle that can transform social relations and
not a state policy, which remains by nature a capital tool.
Analyzing the "negotiations" with the European institutions?
Yannis Androulidakis: Any negotiation is a balance of power and the question of
negotiating with that. The Greek government had a naive strategy. He thought that by
issuing the threat "we do not want your money and are ready to pass us," he might make a
compromise.
But EU policy is not based on monetary circulation, it is a class policy. That's why it's
not Varoufakis which can effectively negotiate with the EU, but the workers themselves.
And this negotiation, we must do it in the street, in the perspective of a general strike
that could really change the balance of power. Without the actual pressure, the Greek
government is doomed to continued looting.
And this is what happens: we go to a third memorandum, which will be a total humiliation
for Syriza. But it will above all, the final destruction of Greek society and especially
of the working class.
What is the attitude of the institutional struggle unionism and syndicalism?
Yannis Androulidakis: The institutional unions in Greece is an old history of corruption,
submission and statism. The destruction of the apparatus of the Socialist Party (PASOK),
both politically and union, left a lot of scope for some kind of misplaced corporatist
unionism.
But the defeat of the institutional trade unionism in the period 2009-2012 has been so
spectacular that it does not really weight in the working class, including 30% among the
unemployed. Regarding the struggle unionism, he was also beaten during this period, by
binding to interclassist deviations and "populist" who dominated a moment in the social
movement.
Currently the trade union movement is almost a desert, but only almost. The experiences
and structures conquered in the period 2009-2012 (including our organization
anarchosyndicalist Initiative Rocinante) are alive and able to regain their vitality.
What struggles (workers, political and social) are being carried out in Greece?
Yannis Androulidakis: The victory of Syriza led to a social truce which followed the
"great depression" of the labor movement after the 2012 elections, but we are to overcome
this disaster. There has already been a first strike in the health and preparations are
underway in education. Much of sectors that will suffer the "privatization to the left"
such as ports and electricity workers could also return to fight soon. Finally, the
struggle for the rights of immigrants, still murdered and tortured at Greek borders, are
perennials.
Update on the reactions of the left (outside and inside Syriza), the anarchist movement?
Yannis Androulidakis: We're out of a total period of confusion. Antarsya, the main
far-left structure is in a phase of "autism" quite disappointing. While his speech is
based on the need to leave the euro and return to the drachma.
Of course we do not support the euro. But opposition to the euro should be the result of a
social mobilization strategy and not a political principle. And social mobilization is
something very different from fishing disappointed voters of Syriza, under the banner of
the value of the currency. The use of economic patriotism is not radical. Inside Syriza,
the same speech exists and produces the same impasse.
The anarchist movement is often limited to violent actions - even if there is a decline of
indiscriminate violence - to prove that he is not in favor of Syriza. We are far from a
social strategy.
The policy actions and development of Rocinante in particular?
Yannis Androulidakis: After an initial period of strong development we are at a stage of
stabilization. We are present in all major regions: Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras, Crete,
Volos, etc. We are established in several professional sectors: education, media,
construction and health. We are also very active in the fight against racism.
Obviously we are far from our goals: we are not more than 150 employees in a country of 10
million inhabitants. Our current strategy is the creation of a workers 'united front must
unite so that the unions control the class structures (control center, strike committees,
workers' circles etc.), which constitute the alternative to this policy.
We do not abandon our efforts to create an anti-capitalist trade union confederation,
which would bring together all trade union tendencies of this type.
A point on the far right in this context?
Yannis Androulidakis: Golden Dawn took a real hit after the assassination of anti-fascist
activist Pavlos Fyssas in September 2013. The trial against the Nazi leaders could destroy
his whole unit.
But we know that this is not by justice that we will get rid of the fascist danger in
society. It is a challenge for the unions: it is necessary both to fight fascism and
organize migrant workers. The ideas of Golden Dawn are there, even if its organizational
strength has weakened.
And in the words of an old Spanish anarchist militant: "We are not fighting fascism with
the government but despite the government. Because it is well known that the capitalists
are turning to fascism whenever their power is at risk. "
Interview by Clement (AL Paris-Northeast)
http://rocinante.gr
http://www.alternativelibertaire.org/?Grece-Yannis-Androulidakis
