varoufakis urges next spanish leader to defy brussels
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

Varoufakis urges next Spanish leader to defy Brussels

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today Varoufakis urges next Spanish leader to defy Brussels

Former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis
Madrid - AFP

Greece's far-left former finance minister Yanis Varoufakis called Sunday on the next leader of Spain to defy the European Union, speaking to hundreds of cheering onlookers during an anti-austerity gathering in Madrid.

The so-called "Plan B" weekend event near the grounds of Madrid's former abattoirs -- now converted into a sprawling cultural centre -- saw activists, actors and left-wing politicians from Spain, France, Britain and other countries get together as a pan-European movement against EU-imposed austerity gathers pace.

It comes at a time of uncertainty for Spain where December elections produced a hung parliament, as voters fed up with years of crisis-sparked austerity snubbed the traditional conservative and socialist parties and flocked to two new groupings -- centre-right Ciudadanos and far-left Podemos.

"A little bit more than a year ago... the Troika tried to convince the Greek people that the Spanish austerity programme was a success story," Varoufakis told the crowd, referring to the European Commission, International Monetary Fund and European Central Bank.

"We did not buy that lie," he said, pointing to the Greek elections in January 2015 that swept the radical left-wing Syriza party to power.

"In December, the Spanish people were told that if you do as we did, you will be crushed.... The Spanish people did not buy that lie," he said.

"This is why we are at now at a crucial juncture in Spain."

Socialist party chief Pedro Sanchez has been tasked by the king with forming a government after acting conservative Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy failed to get enough support from other parties.

He is currently trying to garner the backing of other groupings that won parliamentary seats, including Syriza ally Podemos, before a crux vote of confidence at the beginning of March.

"I don't care who is in government. What I care about... is that the next government respects the demands of the Spanish people for change and goes to Brussels and says 'no pasaran'," Varoufakis said.

Rajoy's tough spending cuts and tax rises during his four-year term helped Spain emerge from a severe economic crisis, but critics say he left glaring inequalities in his wake.

Madrid's "Plan B" anti-austerity gathering follows a similar gathering held in Paris last month.

Varoufakis himself launched a pan-European grassroots political movement to "democratise" the EU earlier this month.

 

arabstoday
arabstoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

varoufakis urges next spanish leader to defy brussels varoufakis urges next spanish leader to defy brussels

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

varoufakis urges next spanish leader to defy brussels varoufakis urges next spanish leader to defy brussels

 



GMT 10:06 2012 Saturday ,28 July

Querrey advances at ATP LA Open

GMT 21:15 2017 Thursday ,01 June

Trump condemns deadly Kabul explosion

GMT 02:15 2017 Thursday ,24 August

Is your country on the Qatar free entry list of 80?

GMT 19:48 2016 Monday ,03 October

Controversial boxing champ Tyson Fury retires

GMT 08:20 2015 Tuesday ,08 December

PC market woes show no sign of easing

GMT 17:27 2017 Tuesday ,25 April

20 Yemeni soldiers killed, injured in explosion

GMT 11:52 2017 Saturday ,30 December

OIC condemns Mar Mina Church attack

GMT 00:03 2017 Saturday ,25 March

Arab Meeting to Examine Anti-Corruption Methods

GMT 13:12 2017 Thursday ,20 April

Deputy premier meets Arab League chief

GMT 14:13 2014 Friday ,10 January

Opel Astra GTC

GMT 18:27 2016 Tuesday ,02 August

Turkish Foreign Minister arrives in Islamabad

GMT 11:27 2016 Tuesday ,13 December

Saudi woman arrested for challenging social norms
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday