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North and South: Failed governments, failed politics, but more attacks on the workers

Following elections both sides of the border two new administrations are in place in Ireland. In both elections there were strong expressions of discontent, with significant votes for left and independent candidates.

In both administrations the outcome was the continuation of business as usual, with a minority Fine Gael government in Dublin and a reduced DUP/Sinn Fein coalition in Belfast. However both administrations have been significantly weakened.

Austerity is gathering speed. The sums that supported a Fine Gael election budget have now been amended and both government and opposition have signed up to the Troika budget and to continued restrictions on wages. In the North the Fresh Start programme is gathering pace.

However the problem in building an effective opposition is held back by the left focus on parliamentary representation. In pursuit of six Dail seats People Before Profit and the Anti-Austerity Alliance went along with the winding down  of the Right2Water mobilizations. The PBP MLAs in the North stand with a trade union bureaucracy that has signed up to Fresh Start.

The future of the European resistance is pointed to by the Nuit debout demonstrations and mass strikes in France.

In Ireland we have the anger, we have working class  action What we lack is a political movement willing to break decisively from reform and embrace revolution. 

 


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