Coronavirus: thousands of Spanish workers mobilise and stop production to protest unsafe working conditions The following statement shows how workers in Spain, who are striking in protest at the bosses’ refusal to take adequate safety measures in light of the coronavirus pandemic, are setting an example to the whole world. No to unsafe working conditions! Make the bosses pay!
[Video] Coronavirus, crisis and class struggle in Italy Claudio Bellotti - editor of Rivoluzione - discusses the impact of the coronavirus outbreak in Italy, which has the second-most cases after China. Around 24,000 people have been confirmed to have the disease. This emergency has exposed the underlying rot in Italian capitalism. A public health crisis has been brewing for decades, due to massive cuts to the Italian health system over the course of 30 years. Meanwhile, the erratic reaction of the government reflects the weakness and divisions in the ruling class.
Russia: Putin regime attacks anti-fascists and moves toward full-scale police dictatorship On 14 March, in Moscow, near the FSB building, a series of peaceful pickets was to be held against the “Network Case” and new constitutional amendments introduced by the regime. But the authorities decided that, on this day, they would prevent even legal protests – at any cost. Several special police units were deployed in order to arrest not only the protesters, but also the journalists covering the protests. As a result, more than 50 people were arrested.
Britain: coronavirus crisis – make the bosses pay! After much delay, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson today announced the government’s lacklustre response to the covid-19 pandemic. The labour movement must fight to ensure that workers, the poor, and the vulnerable do not suffer as a result of the outbreak.
Italy: the coronavirus epidemic is an emergency, but capitalism is the real disaster The coronavirus crisis is more severe in Italy than anywhere else in Europe. This shows the chronic failures of the government – whose response so far has been totally inadequate, and which is attempting to shunt the economic burden of the emergency onto working people.
Britain: Tory crisis budget – desperate measures for desperate times Yesterday's Budget announcement by Tory Chancellor Rishi Sunak attempted to calm the capitalists’ fears with promises of extra spending and stimulus. But British capitalism faces a perfect storm, and the Tories’ promises will soon turn to dust.
Britain: battle for control of the Labour Party Voting has begun for the Labour leadership contest in Britain. With their champion Keir Starmer, the establishment hopes to regain control of the Labour Party. We must fight to continue the 'Corbyn revolution', this editorial by Socialist Appeal explains.
Russian oil and the currency crisis: the capitalists must pay! The following is a statement by The Marxist Tendency about the impending economic crisis resulting from Russia’s failed oil deal with Saudi Arabia.
Britain: Flybe collapse – turbulence ahead for the airline industry After months of uncertainty, regional airline Flybe has been abandoned by the Tory government and gone bust. This is a symptom of the severe crisis facing the global aviation industry – and the entire capitalist system.
Greece: stop the brazen war on refugees now! In the last few days, the government and the state of the Greek ruling class have embarked upon an open, brazen war against thousands of refugees, with the complicity of Erdogan’s cynical regime and the tolerance and encouragement of the European Union.
Britain: Boris’ “misfits and weirdos” take control in Downing Street The Tory Party and British government are being transformed under Boris Johnson’s leadership and Dominic Cumming’s influence. And big business is increasingly alarmed by the direction in which things are headed.
[Video] Irish elections: a shattering blow to the establishment In the past, liberal commentators superficially asserted that Ireland had escaped the political turbulence that has rocked the rest of Europe. But no longer. With the results of the 2020 general election, Ireland had caught up with a bang, Ben Curry (writer for Socialist Appeal) explains.
Italy’s response to the coronavirus: indiscriminate measures and fearmongering The following article, originally published on 26 February by Sinistra classe rivoluzione, criticises the Italian government’s response to the coronavirus epidemic. Rather than inform the public and protect public health, the government has instead created needless panic, enacted inefficient measures, and suppressed the rights to strike and public assembly.
Russia: rally in solidarity with victims of Network Case Last week, comrades of the Marxist Tendency helped call a public protest in St. Petersburg against the Network Case, in which several left-wing activists have been given lengthy sentences under anti-terror laws after giving confessions obtained through torture. We share this report of the rally, originally published in Russian on 22 February.
Britain: interview with Labour deputy candidate Richard Burgon – for open selection and a socialist Clause IV! Richard Burgon, left-wing Labour MP for Leeds East, is standing to be deputy leader of the party. With the contest in full-swing, Burgon has already secured his place on the ballot, thanks to the support of dozens of CLPs, alongside the backing of unions such as Unite, the Fire Brigades Union, and the Bakers’ and Food Workers’ Union (BFAWU). We publish a recent interview with Burgon that appeared in the British Marxist newspaper, Socialist Appeal.