After almost five years of ruthless austerity measures, Greek workers have been left in conditions of poverty and unemployment. Since the introduction of these measures, Greece’s economy has contracted by 25%, wages have been cut by more than 30%, millions have lost medical care, 6 in 10 young Greeks are unemployed, and homelessness is soaring.

Syriza, the self-proclaimed “Coalition of the Radical Left,” running on an “anti austerity” platform, exploited the huge discontent of the Greek population to win the recent general elections. Syriza’s victory has been proclaimed by many to be a big step forward for the working class.

The conceptions that Syriza is ‘leftist’ or even ‘socialist’ are nothing but illusions. The elections were followed by the announcement of a coalition with the Independent Greeks, a right-wing, xenophobic party with fascist connections.

Since then, Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras has gone to great lengths to reassure Europe’s central banks and investors holding Greek debt that Syriza poses no threat to their interests.

The IYSSE at UM encourages all students and youth to attend our discussion of the significance of Syriza’s victory and the way forward for the working class.