”European Left against austerity politics” – Emmi Tuomi CPFinland vice chairperson speech in IV Congress of the Party of the European Left Parties

English

14.12.2013 - 16:58 (Muokattu 6.11.2025 - 13:37)

Emmi Tuomi

Emmi Tuomi, vice-chair of the Communist Party of Finland

The 4^th Congress of the European Left, 13.-15.12.2013

Dear comrades,

The political document prepared for this congress highlights the gathering of European forces in for a leftist alternative. The European Left has an important role in strengthening the co-operation of trade unionists, social movements and anticapitalist left forces.

There’s a special challenge in strengthening the fight against austerity politics in Northern parts of Europe; to build a a common struggle, based on solidarity, from Southern Europe to North, from West to East.

In Finland we have a government of six parties, that has unanimously accepted all the European Union austerity agreements. By supporting the policy of Merkel and comissioner Olli Rehn, the Finnish government has supported also the privatisations, the cut-downs of public services and social security and the weakenings of working conditions and agreements all around the Europe. This development is clear in Finland, too. For example the public service fundings have been cut down by 1.4 billion euros. This is affecting worst the children, the young and elderly people and women. At the same time the companies are getting tax reliefs of billions of euros. The Finnish troops are in Afghanistan war, and Finnish government has offered to lead the EU combat forces together with NATO.

The situation in Finland is not as catastrophic as in some other countries in southern and eastern Europe. Regardles of that, we see clearly that within the EU austerity policy, it is not possible to do politics that prioritise employment, social development, environment and democracy. It is very important to state clearly, that European Left is against the EU agreements, and that we want to build a Europe, where a human being is more important than the freedom of markets.

When bringing up the alternatives, the events like trade union action days or Alter Summit, the initiatives of European Left and the work of GUE/NGL have an important role.

The Communist party of Finland wants the leftist alternative to be more powerful than before, also in Finland. At the same time, it is our sign of solidarity to Greece, to Spain and all the workers in other countries. We have a common struggle against austerity politics and against the power of money.

Emmi Tuomi

”European Left against austerity politics” – Emmi Tuomi CPFinland vice chairperson speech in IV Congress of the Party of the European Left Parties

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