Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-01-21

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] SYN to step up preparations ahead of local elections

[01] SYN to step up preparations ahead of local elections

The committee, convening over the weekend, also decided to launch a three-month campaign that will focus on key issues such as health, education, labour relations and efforts to bring together the parties of the Left.

Presenting the committee's action plan, SYN Secretary Nikos Hountis noted that by allowing a political party to win the local government elections with a 42% majority - a change recently made by ruling New Democracy - the chances of the two major parties dominating local elections greatly increase, thus underscoring the need for action and for the creation of leftist alliances.

He accused the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) of adopting a 'divisive' line even on a local government level.

As for the government's proposed revision of the Constitution, SYN expects it to be in a conservative direction, Hountis said.

He also criticised the government's policies, saying that the "head-on neoliberal governmental attack on wages, labour and pension rights places broad social classes in a difficult position, while privatisations, accumulation of new tax burdens and hikes, and the reduction in social spending aggravate social problems."

For 2006, Hountis predicted that a greater outcry against the government's implemented measures will be heard while the need for political and social forces to join together on an 'anti-neoliberal basis' will intensify.

He also criticised the main opposition PASOK party of effectively going along with the government's basic economic policies and the constitutional revision, which results in the public's displeasure with both major parties.

As for SYN's internal situation, Hountis said that despite some progress made, the party continues to experience organizational weaknesses and an inward-looking approach. To address these problems, the Committee has proposed staging a National Organisational Conference in April.

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article