Statement from supporters of the Fourth International in Barcelona.
agreement (Spanish and IU (United Left) has pre electoral scene in the Spanish State. The process of negotiation made beachines so tae pres The United Left had found its place 'under the sun' after a period of sombre perspectives following on from the EU elections The spokespersons for the right wing Partido Popular dusted off slogans from carlier order trighten the centrist wing of the PSOE's electorate. They claimed that this ment. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Successive OPInIOn polls had predicted the defeat of the Socialist Party, if it ran on its own ticket. This was in the context prolonged and 4008OH their programme was not capable of animating and mobilising the working class. Faced this Icadership went into negotiations with IU.
Apart from their less than honourable intentions, this also signalled a change in the traditional sectarian attitude the PSOE towards the United Lett The willingness of the IU leadership to negotiate has also meant the suppression of their old sectarian atti- public tudes, in the first nhase of the process there was little to Inere was a tus of war between the Socialist Party that the United International Viewpoint offers special (Also available in USA $35: Canada $40: Australia $35: New Zealand $35: South Africa R80: Sweden 330 SEK: Denmark 300 able on request). Isquienda Unida bors Julio Angwita Left withdraw its lists from those constituencies where they could not win to con centrate the vote break with counter proposal from IU to organise electoral coalitions in these areas. This diverted attention from essential part of the negotiations: the programme, its policy nature and conteat The cleven point agrecment, under the headings of detailed manner employment, economic pol• A) Employment: The formula used to reduce the working weck forward by the Icadership of the PSOE and CC.OO (secwhich has to date produced no results. It relies on the willingness of the bosses to negotiate!. They didn't even considered the French model, despite its limits and contradictions This is a kick in the teeth for more than 700,00 people who supported the mobilisations for a 35 hour law concessions. They haven't set out any measures to eliminate job insecurity in the workplace or even to modify the current legislation governing WORk completely favourable to the bosses. doned its demand for inc suppression of the temping Experience shows, successive agreed unions in enormous which affects one third of the working population, and the unemployment there are no conditions make these proposals effec. tive. B) Economic Policy: Here, there are a number of progressive sounding genicy, autonomous region pol- agreement is bared upon the compliance with budgetary signifies made programme framework of Monetary and passed by the IU's national Economic Union'. conference and with the publie line given until now. tance of the austerity and The other points such as anti social policies of stabileducation, pensions, health City pact which arise from the and social weuare, moncy economie policies imposed clearly insuffiby the BU. Ne deal in a more C) Autonomous most controversial points. Regions Policy:
There which allows citizens of the different decide on the changes to the state, whether these would he in a federalist direction or other equally options such Instead the agreement continues to rely on the model of authoritarian leadership lo resolve the contradictions in the existing state. This makes a lasting demowest Pipo cratic solution to the various national conflicts more difficult, particularly Basque Country. another abandonment of previous programme of the United Left.
in the arcas of defence security. The undertakings referred the Spanish to are those ol state waich we nave sech ti years such as the logistical support gIVen the bombardment and the bombing of Kosova and Serbia (Who is next!) This is yet another break by the United left with programme - a tragic one.
E) Terrorism:
On this question the United Left has lined up behind the centralist ollon on the o They have lost all the credsame onc put ibility gained at the time of the Lizarra Accords INB: and the accords were the frameUI880B work in which all the polt cal parties in the Basque together Colas agree a negotiated settiement Ed] a political democommitted to a peaceful and just solution to the national question. In overall terms this is a programme in which women are hardly mentioned, and where measures are extremely lim- chroniscutal sted there is not even a timetable for toc closure or all the nuclear power stawhich There is little which is in solidarity with the peoples crushed by external debt. has also aban- In general the social comand will not be carried out in due to that nomic and financial policies measures which will be applied. with the In other words this is a prool gramme which is insufliinsecurity, ciently feminist, social or in solidarity with rate, chose in struggle This programme is not a bit alternaanything radical left and nationalist. The agreement is a governmental accord for the PSOE and IU if they gain a parliamentary majority. The justifications and explications which surround the agreement, that it is a programme of minimum demands, that cach side can defend what it believes convenien their respective programmes are worth little faced with a programme for government. Experience shows how the logic of the internal functioning of government the mechanisms solidarity ( and interests which develop that wenn e aus Scas and wills. mechanism All of this takes place in an г -nationalities legitimate the right to self against racism and fascism Essays by 12 authors including Ernest Mandel 130 pages £5.00 including the postage from This Socialist Outlook, the PO Box 1109 London N4 2UU short term social mobilisations and the and more seats than IU. will gain far This agreement participation and involvement of the affiliates ol boln organisatons ignoring the social needs of the majority in the Spanish State.
The agreement will be usetheir less in the face of grave polit- ical will not motivate and mobilise workers, women and youth in a sustained manner.
It will not even be easy to generate the desired clectoral mobilisation behind this agreement. idea of the useful vote' and the increase in abstention amongst the left will be negative for IU.
agreement destroys the United Left's credibility as an political force critical of the this greement manages to brin U into government it wil become a prisoner and will be held responsible for the management of the old poliFor the Collectiu per una Esquerra Alternativa (Fourth International) this agreement was not the only possibic outcome of the pro cess. Another type of agreement was possible, taking and the circumstances.
should eco. have been to get the right wing party out of governThe PSOE and IU should have committed themselves to xiving incir voicto the green, best positioned left candidate, in this case the PSOE, in order gain Presidency. but should also have included a serious and rigorcommitment after the elections to open a dialogue with the social and citizens movements to promote unity in action and mobilise in favour of most urgent social and political demands.
In any event it should have maintained the indepenTOTH dence of the United lett from the actions of the government, exercising control from the Parliament society at large, with its hands, heart and head completely free.
February 5, 2000 Collectiu per una Esquerra Alternativa (IV International) --- --7
John North The collapse of the Stormont execthe inthe on February l British February strongly refutes the claim that the Good Friday agreement is a solution to the question of Irish independence. The following arguments were put forward for the agreement: • the referendum in support of the Good Friday agreement held in both partitioned Irish states represented an exercise of self-determination • the agreement replaced both the Irish claim Government of Ireland Act in a new historic compromise • would remove the unionist veto • the new dispensation was guaranteed by a nationalist family, involving republicans and Irish capitalists and supported by the authority of US Imperialism. This claim of a final, successful decolonisation was played up in the agreement's final implementation. The joke at the setting up of the new Stormont executive was Mandelson, the British Secretary of State, was signing bis way tato anempioyment as he signed the legal instrument setting it up. resente ve of the British state, with a repe Bight weeks later, this "unemployed" Calling the shors: Trimble
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nutshell, determination is denied.
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