Alexis Tsipras

The SYRIZA government's , drawn up as part of its temporary four-month loan extension deal, was accepted by the Eurogroup on February 24. In a February 25 statement, the (EL) said: "The fight for democracy and against austerity in Europe is far from being finished, but this bridging agreement is a very important first step.
The pledge below was published on the website of the , which says: 鈥淟et Greece Breathe is a campaign for hope and justice. We aim to show that Greece and the Greek people are not alone in their hour of need. 鈥淎 victory for Greece will be a victory for people everywhere -- that is why the battle is so fierce. You can help by endorsing the statement and pledge below.鈥 ***
After days of fraught negotiations, a temporary agreement was finally reached on February 20 between the Greek government and its Eurozone creditors to extend Greece's loan agreement. It came a day after the German government scuttled a Greece proposal for a six-month extension to its loans program, which was set to run out at the end of the month.
Talks between Eurozone finance ministers and Greek officials abruptly broke down on February 16 after Greece was offered a deal that it said was 鈥渦nacceptable鈥. Both sides ended debt-restructuring negotiations in Brussels, creating pessimism that a deal will be reached before a February 28 deadline. A draft agreement offered by the eurozone proposed that Greece accept a six-month extension of its bailout under existing bailout conditions.
Thousands of people hit the streets of Europe in solidarity with the Greek people and their newly-elected left-wing government, which is looking to undo years of imposed economic austerity programs. 鈥淟et Greece breathe鈥 has become the rallying cry for those who want Greece鈥檚 new Syriza鈥檚 government to have a chance to tread a new path for Europe. Demonstrations in cities across Britain, France, Spain and elsewhere stood in solidarity with massive crowds in Greece to express support for the Syriza government led by new Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.
Protesters in Athens on February 11

Radical leftist party SYRIZA has swept to power in Greece promising to end austerity and threatening to spark an anti-austerity fightback across Europe. 麻豆传媒 Weekly's European correspondent and member Dick Nichols, usually based in Barcelona, was in Athens for the historic win. He is speaking across the country about SYRIZA's challenge to austerity and elite rule.

Protest banner

"When was the last time you saw Greeks protesting in support of the government?", on February 5.

Thousands of people took to the streets in Athens on February 5.

If anyone was still wondering whether European politics and a Europe-wide class struggle actually exist, reactions from all quarters to the first two weeks of Greece鈥檚 new SYRIZA-led government would have cleared up any doubts.

Venezuela's left-wing government has congratulated Alexis Tsipras, leader of Greece's radical left SYRIZA party, who won a huge victory in Greece's parliamentary elections on January 25, TeleSUR English reported. A Venezuelan government statement said: 鈥淰enezuela warmly congratulates the Syriza coalition party and Alexis Tsipras for their historic victory, wishing them success and complete solidarity and support.鈥
The sound system was playing the famous Italian resistance song 鈥淏ella Ciao鈥. Flags of parties from across the left and the continent wiggled as their bearers danced and sang along to celebrate SYRIZA's win in the January 25 Greek elections. Ouzo flowed and fireworks flared. We could have been outside a G8 summit in the early noughties. Only the explosives weren鈥檛 directed at police lines, but in the air. The crowd chanting at the politician wasn鈥檛 protesting, but cheering. An international movement that has become very good at licking its wounds was learning to celebrate.
鈥淕reece is turning the page,鈥 SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras told an ecstatic crowd on January 25. The radical left party had just come first in historic elections in Greece with 36.3% of the vote. 鈥淕reece leaves behind the austerity that caused its destruction. It leaves behind fear and intimidation; it leaves behind five years of humiliation and grief. Greece advances with hope, with dignity and steady steps towards a changing Europe.鈥 The news from Greece has spread hope around the world.
Cleaners sacked by the finance ministry rally for SYRIZA ahead of the January 25 elections.

There were scenes of joy on the streets of Athens on the night of January 25 as results of the day's national elections gave a clear victory to SYRIZA 鈥 the Coalition of the Radical Left.