France, Alternative Libertaire AL (September) - Spanish
state: Luis Leon (Apoyo Mutuo): "Building an opposition to
parliamentarism" (fr, it, pt) [machine translation]
(a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
Following the movement of the Indignant-es (15-M), there appeared a little over a year in
Spain a new political force: Podemos. Of that heritage, and at the initiative of activists
and libertarian militants, class struggle trade unionists and social movements, was born
last May another organization: Apoyo Mutuo (AM). If the party of Pablo Iglesias has chosen
to influence the political spectrum in standing for election, with some success as
evidenced by the conquests of the city councils of Madrid and Barcelona by lists supported
by Podemos, Apoyo Mutuo chose another route, outside the institutional framework,
forcefully rejecting the electoral option. Discovery, Luis Leon, 19, libertarian
syndicalist and spokesman of this new formation claiming anti-capitalism, of direct
democracy and self-management.
This spring was created Apoyo Mutuo. Can you go back to the genesis of your organization?
With the emergence of the movement of the Indignant-es, many people took to the street on
the slogan: "They do not represent us! "The cycle opened by the movement of the
Indignant-es has closed today for granted: an activity, creativity and social initiatives
quite exemplary. Nevertheless, we who have been actors and actresses of this movement,
have witnessed its drift field of electioneering. A form of institutionalization which
actually emptied the essence of 15M and its project of social transformation, truly
revolutionary.
This process has raised awareness for many comrades of the need to organize ourselves
politically beyond what may constitute collective or union organizations (without ceasing
to be union members), which often do not fight for defend our social gains.
From this observation was born Apoyo Mutuo, which has as a goal the development of a
society opposed to the alternative project and state capitalist model, and as form of
action to work in conjunction with social movements, not on the ground election.
Can we say qu'Apoyo Mutuo is a libertarian organization?
Apoyo Mutuo is not a specifically anarchist organization. We do not want to lock ourselves
in an ideological straitjacket. We prefer to define our struggle as anti-capitalist,
feminist and environmentalist. However, the libertarian label does not bother us given the
provenance of many of our activists. Likewise, our internal functioning of direct
democracy is explicitly attach to the anarchist current.
Can you clarify the structure of Apoyo Mutuo?
AM is structured in two ways. Nationally, we have what is called the common level, which
serves as a coordinating body. At local level, given our recent creation, for now, our
development is still limited with existing militant groups primarily in Madrid and in the
Granada region. We do not want, either, to create from scratch anxiously groups that are
empty shells. Let time to time. A luxury that we can afford to as much as one is not
taken, since it is our strategic choice, for the urgency of any electoral deadline and its
inevitable blows of stress to mount lists , campaigning, possibly form alliances. If
groups to eventually join us in other cities, we wish that this be done on the basis of
careful consideration of interested people. That said, there are already many contacts
also with nuclei of people who intend to integrate our organization.
What is the profile of activists Apoyo Mutuo of?
There is no typical profile. Personally, I come from the CNT. Others come from other
libertarian groups (CGT, SO, athenaeums libertarian) or alternative and combative unions.
Others, most in fact are from the es-es Indignant movement, group of tenants who are
struggling against evictions, or feminist groups, internationalists, or animal rights.
Here in France, there is much talk of Podemos phenomenon. A party where are also involved
people from social movements and the libertarian movement. Can you clarify your
relationship with the party of Pablo Iglesias?
Our vis-à-vis Podemos but also different forms taken by similar initiatives at local level
(Ganemos in Madrid, Barcelona in Comú for example) is a position of mutual respect
although we have made a different choice due to our antiélectoralisme. We do not discuss
their choices or their intentions are honest judge that especially since most of its
members are old and old comrades who were involved-as we are in the movement of the
Indignados, or are social movements . We just think, unlike Podemos, that entering the
electoral game is a trap which has irremediable risk of institutionalization, medium or
long term. And more so than in the Spanish context, there is no social movement beefy
enough to weigh and really put pressure on the parties (including Podemos).
For me, Podemos remains too restrictive in his speech. Fight against neoliberalism is good
but without addressing the root causes of the structure of the economic model, it is
ultimately leave some illusion that there is the option of a capitalist system "human
face" . Apoyo Mutuo what to we do not believe.
We note, moreover, that Podemos no exception, despite its short existence, to drifts
inherent to any party that is part of traditional politics, namely a "leaderisme" toxic
dirigisme and the top down.
The final word ?
Now do we deceive no enemy. The opponent is not Podemos, but capitalism and political
parties who do live. And on our side, let us build a real opposition to parliamentarism in
general, building on social movements.
Interview by Jérémie Berthuin (AL Gard)
http://www.alternativelibertaire.org/?Etat-espagnol-Luis-Leon-Apoyo
