The Left Front called for a gathering in front of the Greek consulate in Nice on Monday, January 26. Following the victory of the Syriza party, the French Communist Party (PCF) wanted to celebrate this success and express its support for the Greek people.
Greek flags, placards, and red banners waved among around sixty joyful demonstrators. It was in a festive atmosphere that the PCF wished to address the Greek people. “They have regained their dignity. Syriza’s victory is the people’s victory! It is a tremendous hope!” acclaimed Cécile Dumas, General Secretary of the Communist Party.
“The Troika’s austerity is over! Discussions will take place about the Greek debt and to revive public services in order to tackle the humanitarian crisis that European austerity had created. I believe these changes are fundamental and give enormous hope. For us, activists of the Left Front, it is a tremendous hope. We hope this will be contagious across Europe,” she continued.
“January 25 is a historic date in Europe’s history”
For Cécile Dumas, January 25 is a historic date in Europe’s history. “Finally, austerity policies are countered by the will for social justice and not by the emergence of a xenophobic and racist far-right! The Greek people have chosen social emancipation.”
“This election is historic. But Syriza faces many challenges. The banks and certain powerful entities will do everything to ensure it does not succeed. It should be known that Greece has already repaid its debt. What Europe demands are the interests. If Greece stops paying, no one will lose money. While the Greeks suffer, France receives interest. It is not right; we must show solidarity,” emphasized Pascal Tournois, a Left Front activist.
A glimmer of hope for the people?
“We are old companions of Alexis Tsipras*. I had the chance to meet him in Athens two years ago. He is a very simple person who genuinely wants to do politics for the people and not for the oligarchy,” confided Cécile Dumas.
Unfortunately for her, according to the polls, the voters in the Maritime Alps do not seem to follow this example in the departmental elections on March 22 and 29.
