Preamble
The current multilevel crisis has highlighted the insurmountable dead ends of the neoliberal regime in Greece, in Europe and in the world. At the same time, systematic demands for a way out have started to emerge, which exceed the strengths of the neoliberal system: peace, reduction of armaments, and solidarity between peoples in view of the continuing war in Ukraine and of the likelihood of even more dangerous geopolitical developments, socialization of vaccine patents, public health systems, control of prices, energy poverty, and inflation, public goods against privatizations, solutions to climate crisis and environmental destruction, reduction of inequalities, protection of labor, combat against unemployment, defense and deepening of democracy. These demands call for their political expression in the direction of a socialism that will respond to the challenges and stakes of the 21st century.
The guidelines of Syriza-PA’s policies are:
The protection of Greece’s sovereignty and sovereign rights as well as the peaceful settlement of disputes with our neighboring countries, in the context of international law. On this basis, the promotion of a road map – with clear red lines – for substantial dialogue with Turkey with a view to taking recourse to the Hague.
The combat against high prices, energy poverty, unemployment, degradation of labor, and the total productive reconstruction of the country.
The defense of peace through the formation of a robust international movement that will take on all the necessary initiatives.
The development of an ideological struggle on all fronts, against the “idea” that wars can resolve anything, against the Far Right in all its versions, against neoliberal doctrines. Through the development, the popularization, and the consolidation of the fundamental principles of the Left: peace, equality, freedom, brotherhood, justice for all.
The expansion and deepening of democracy everywhere and at all levels.
The acknowledgement of gender discriminations and the establishment of pertinent equality.
The promotion of the environmental aspect of economic and social functions and activities and their effective management.
The World
The war
The Russian Federation’s military invasion of Ukraine is a blatant violation of International Law, leads to the death of thousands of civilians, to the destruction of the country and to refugee flows of millions, while it constitutes an immediate danger to the world peace with the return of the nuclear threat.
Whatever the arguments of the Russian Federation might be, right or wrong, far-fetched or sound, they do not justify, let alone legitimize, the invasion of Ukraine or the absolutely concomitant destabilization this is causing. Therefore, the Russian Federation is primarily responsible for the tragic situation of the Ukrainian people and for the extremely dangerous turn in the history of humanity. In this context, the sanctions imposed by the international community were essential so that the invasion will be terminated and diplomacy and peace will return. SYRIZA-PA’s support to the Ukrainian people is unstinting and must be implemented in many ways.
Apart from the Russian Federation, NATO also bears its own historical responsibilities. Despite the commitments it took on in 1999, it did not proceed to the construction of an undivided structural security and its constant expansion eastwards caused reasonable fears to the Russian Federation, which felt surrounded militarily.
Today, the policies promoted by the NATO countries, with the US leading in the sanctions race, suggest that they do not aim at the termination of the war through negotiations, but at the overthrow of the Putin regime.
The situation that is being formed affects almost all the countries on the planet, shakes the very foundations of all the geopolitical and international financial parameters while it is developing into something extremely dangerous. The specter of a hot world war with the danger of using nuclear weapons is not in the sphere of the inconceivable any longer.
The EU did not manage to prevent the war in advance nor to mediate actively after its breakout so that the war ends quickly. Today, it fails to assume a role strategically autonomous from the US and NATO in order to exert substantial pressure for the termination of the war and the return to diplomacy. As long as this situation and the EU stance remain unchanged, these tendencies are bound to intensify.
The aforementioned sanctions should not be allowed to destroy all bridges with the Russian people. It is preposterous to expel Russian (and Belarussian) groups, teams, and individuals from all international artistic, scientific, and athletic events and fora with the sole criterion of nationality or alleged “friendliness” to the regime of the Russian Federation and its President.
In contrast to France and Turkey, which are trying to act as mediators in the conflict, the Greek Prime Minister rushed to align the country unconditionally with NATO’s spearhead. Thus, he reversed the long-held principle of a multidimensional and active foreign policy, which would allow Greece to be part of the solution and not of the problem. This way, the only thing he managed to do was officially rank the country among Russia’s worst enemies, seriously endangering Greece’s interests. And he did so without any guarantees regarding Turkey, whose role is rapidly being upgraded with the US support.
Meanwhile, the country’s already difficult financial circumstances are deteriorating: threat of energy poverty, shortage of products, steep rise in prices, disruption of imports, intensification of danger on our northern and eastern borders. In the middle of a global financial war that has already broken out and in view of its unpredictable severe consequences (in food and energy sufficiency, in import-export flow, in supply chains, exacerbation of inequalities, in new refugee and migrant flows, in currency war, etc.), Greece finds itself in a particularly unfavorable position.
The US, NATO, and the Greek government’s systematic effort to ideologize the developments constitutes an extreme form of historical revisionism, which completely deletes the history of the entire 20th century so as to squeeze it into the dipole of “democracy” vs. “totalitarianism”. That is, into the political imprint of the “two extremes theory”, where the declared aim of this notorious “theory” is to inflict a blow on the Left in the heart of the latter’s attempt to turn its perennial values into policies.
SYRIZA-PA, acknowledging the legacy of its historical values and respecting History before this extremely dangerous current context, is called on to find inspiration in what was happening on the eve of the First World War. The First, not the Second. That is, to position itself unwaveringly and militantly on the side of peace, at the same time rejecting any imperialist revisionism. In order to put forward with absolute clarity the most crucial question of our times: Socialism or barbarism? Being unequivocally aware that the Putin regime has nothing whatsoever to do with socialism or communism, and equally aware that socialism in the 21st century is inconceivable if the Left everywhere in the world does not openly acknowledge the failure of all previous efforts to build socialism and does not do the relevant historically documented and politically active self-criticism.
The crises
The war in Ukraine has outweighed and impels us to downplay the multiple crises facing the world: the pandemic, in its correlation with the escalating environmental destruction, the climate crisis and the debt crisis as linked to extreme forms of exploitation of labor, to the rise in systemic unemployment, to the “creative” destruction of unprofitable capital, to the shrinking of small and medium-sized entrepreneurship, with the aim of eventually leading it to death, to the widening of poverty, to the waste and depletion of natural resources and ecosystems, to the rapid increase in refugee and migrant flows, with the addition of climatic refugees, to the privatization of public/social goods and fields of social reproduction, to the meteoric rise of inequalities. These multiple crises are exacerbated by the crisis of democracy, the intensification of authoritarianism, the dynamic emergence of the Far Right.
SYRIZA-PA’s answer
In proportion to Greece’s population and size, SYRIZA-PA is a large party. This enables it to intervene in all major international issues and allows its voice to be heard. Therefore, it demands:
The formation of a robust peace movement in Greece, in Europe, and in the world that will demand a reduction of arms, the creation of a safe democratic environment for all the countries and peoples.
Security, a decent life, and healthcare in an ecologically safe environment for everyone without exception.
Fair green economic and social reconstruction.
Today’s energy crisis, in correlation with the war, marginalizes the agreement for the protection of the environment, stresses the urgency of a transition to a new energy model based, as a priority, on RES [Renewable Energy Sources] and on all forms of green energy. There should be a rapid de-escalation of the other forms of energy, i.e. lignite, fossil fuels, and natural gas, in a way that will ensure the stability of the energy system, the energy cost, the avoidance of social tensions and financial crises, and the achievement of the climate goals.
Among the immediate measures to deal with the energy crisis and with the surge in inflation and speculation, we should include the suspension of the Energy Stock Market, following France’s example, as well as the actions taken on by the countries of the Mediterranean South for the disengagement from the market mechanisms, and the state’s intervention in order to protect the public interest.
In the same framework, in order to tackle the economic, social, and energy crisis, and at the same time keep on the road to social transformation - that is, redistribution of income and of the balance of power between capital and power -, we should include the indexation of wages and pensions, the progressive tax rate, as well as the reversal of the ratio between direct and indirect taxes in favor of the direct ones.
Everywhere in the world, neoliberalism, and the ND government in Greece even more emphatically, is implementing an extensive privatization program: in social reproduction – Healthcare, Education, Social security -, in infrastructure, in networks, and in free public spaces. The reversal of privatizations is a crucial part of social transformation. The retrieval of DEI [Public Power Corporation] and DEDDIE [Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator] for the public sector, as well as the return of at least one systemic bank to public control, is the first step.
The right to housing
Everyone’s access to affordable quality housing can be realized through these steps: the creation of a Social Housing Register, the immediate redirection of resources from the TAA [Recovery and Resilience Facility] and use of other EU funds, the subsidies for adjustable rent and transitional residence in cases of eviction and seizure, the regulation of the Airbnb market and tenancies to control distortions.
A radical progressive reformation of the state, with decentralization of resources and responsibilities, with participatory democratic institutions.
Immediate interventions in democracy, rights, and justice.
These include: public administration upgrade, democratization of the police force, special care for prisoners’ rights and their rehabilitation, extension of the right to marriage to same-sex couples with full rights, enactment of the right to adoption, a national strategy for the integration of refugees and migrants, separation of Church and State, a policy for democratic reforms in Thrace that will reinforce the rights of the Muslim minority.
A genuine state of law, that is, equality in law, guarantee of rights, legal certainty and unfettered administration of justice, control of corruption and abuse of public funds are all SYRIZA-PA’s political priorities. At the same time, the way justice is administered is a decisive factor in the protection of human rights and for combating inequities. In this context, SYRIZA-PA’s specific commitments include the reinforcement of the wider judicial system, the simplification of the procedures of the judicial system, and the acceleration of judicial processes.
Culture as a key component of the endeavor to reconstruct the country
The priorities of SYRIZA-PA’s cultural policies are: to shield the public character of our cultural heritage, to develop international cultural synergies, to reinforce all forms of contemporary culture, to reshape art education by creating levels of qualifications and founding a tertiary academy of performing arts.
Profound structural changes in sports for the development of all forms of sporting activities (PE at schools, grassroots sporting organizations, sports for all, sports for people with disabilities, high-performance sports)
The upgrade and development of sports infrastructure and the support to amateur sports, the democratic operating framework of sports clubs and the establishment of the rights of athletes, coaches, fans, and all the people practicing sports are SYRIZA-PA’s priority. We fight against doping, violence, manipulation, racism, bullying, and sexism in sports. We claim a modern operating framework for professional sports, which will promote legality, transparency, social control, and reciprocity with amateur sports.
Digital democracy, active participation in the international scientific research concerning the “Fourth Industrial Revolution” from the perspective of public interest, environmental balance, and the improvement of everybody’s life. Greece can become a role model of scientific and technological innovation and SYRIZA-PA assumes the relevant commitment.
Europe
Europe’s geopolitical position
In the whole last period of geopolitical instability and rapid changes, before the war in Ukraine, but also during it, the EU has demonstrated that it does not have a clear geopolitical strategy while its international and regional role seems to be shrinking voluntarily. SYRIZA-PA wants the EU to become a democratic pole, able to mediate in all disputes with the permanent goal of peace, democracy, and prosperity. This would require an overall security architecture in Europe, including Russia. The EU defense policy ought to be strategically autonomous from NATO and the US while it is controlled democratically by a powerful European Parliament. Such a policy should neither just follow obediently behind the “new geography” promoted by the US nor be subjected to neo-colonialist aspirations of powerful European states.
SYRIZA-PA also claims a common European migration and asylum policy that would take into consideration the waves of the future climate refugees. Against the logic of “Fortress Europe” and the illegal and inhumane pushbacks, with respect for everybody’s life and dignity, for the rules of International Law and the Geneva Convention. With a revision of the Dublin Regulation and the establishment of a fair and binding framework of sharing the responsibilities and of relocation that will not burden only the countries of first entrance.
Europe’s institutional deficits
The EU tends to restrict itself to the framework of a narrow economic and monetary union, where social and labor rights are perceived as a side issue at best and as a hindrance to its integration at worst. SYRIZA-PA claims that the EU deepen its integration processes, including the Social, Environmental, and Feminist Europe in its regulatory framework.
More specifically, SYRIZA-PA claims:
The expansion of the European Parliament’s responsibilities so that it will obtain a broader role in issues of economic policy, including the democratic control of the European Central Bank and the Eurogroup.
Greater transparency in the function of the European Council and the Commission, as well as support for the efforts to strengthen the rule of law, gender equality, and the protection of minorities.
The neoliberal framework
The neoliberal framework that defines the invariably exercised economic policy of the EU has become blatantly asphyxiating. Therefore, SYRIZA-PA claims:
The conversion of the Stability and Growth Pact into a Convergence, Durability and Sustainable Development Pact that will not involve draconian fiscal restraints, but criteria and targets for the reinforcement of employment, regional convergence, upward convergence of all relevant social indicators, climate neutrality and systematic promotion of the Green Deal, in safe and durable societies.
The reciprocalization of at least a part of the public debt, towards the settlement of the mounting public debt and the reduction, as far as possible, of the role of the markets.
The conversion of ECB into an integrated central bank and a lender of last resort, whose interventions will not only aim at dealing with inflation but also at assisting the sustainable development rates with adherence to the terms of climate neutrality, at increasing employment, and at the convergence of the economies. Similar aims should be served by the regulatory frameworks and the supervisory systems of the national banking systems on behalf of the ECB and the EU.
Increase in the EU budget, not only to deal with emergencies but also for social and regional cohesion, for the mitigation of the climate crisis and the construction of the conditions of the relevant durability, in ways that seriously take into account the gender dimension.
Critical amendments to the European Green Deal so that the relevant transition will be socially fair. Introduction of binding objectives regarding the reduction of inequities and particularly against energy poverty.
A great EU development initiative that will neither involve the well-known memoranda nor deepen inequities, while it will be compatible with the European Green Deal, with justice and democracy as its dominant characteristics.
A pro-European left force
SYRIZA-PA is statutorily a pro-European left force. In this context, it claims an upward convergence of the systems of labor and social protection. In addition, it claims: the establishment of collective bargaining at a European level and binding European collective agreements, as well as the protection of the relevant rights with additional measures. Minimum social solidarity income, unemployment benefit, and transition to a 35-hour workweek. Construction of a protective safety layer for every social category that is affected, in addition to the traditionally “vulnerable”, so that no one is left alone, no one is left behind.
SYRIZA-PA:
Supports the movements and other initiatives in the areas of peace and democratic, feminist, and environmental claims. Believes that only a wide Paneuropean ideological and political front in favor of peace and against the neoliberal and austerity policies, as well as against the Far Right, can put an end to the war, avert next ones, and tackle the multilateral crisis that scourges European societies, and fights for its construction.
Is committed to multiply its initiatives so that a Paneuropean alliance of left, socialist, social democratic, and green parties and political forces will be forged on the basis of the common claims that stem from the above mentioned. Its participation in the Party of the European Left, the bonds that it has developed with the social democratic parties – symbolicized by our President’s participation as an observer in the summits of the leaders of the European socialists (PES) – and the initiatives it has taken for the formation of a “front” of the countries of the European South serve the plan to construct a Paneuropean alliance of left, socialist, social democratic, and green parties and political forces on the basis of common claims: the enactment of a European pillar of labor and social rights, the elimination of gender and other discriminations, replacement of the Stability Pact, expansion and deepening of the scope of the Recovery Fund, fair environmental transition with an expanded Green Deal, the establishment of an adequate global corporate tax.
SYRIZA-PA’s foreign policy towards everyone is peaceful, active, and multidimensional.
SYRIZA’s legacy, the ND government and SYRIZA-PA’s answer
Legacy
SYRIZA has made a systematic report evaluating its term in government. This report was voted unanimously (with one blank vote) by its Central Committee and has been issued in the public sphere.
Undoubtedly, the SYRIZA government succeeded in the prevention of the humanitarian crisis and in regrouping society, in the exit from memoranda and drawing up a corridor for the settlement of the debt alongside the accumulation of a substantial reserve, in labor relations and strengthening workers’ bargaining power, in the institutional democratization of social sectors, in the upgrade of the country’s international position, and in the Prespa Agreement. In any case, these constitute achievements of historic importance.
Many are the legacies left behind by the SYRIZA government: construction of a powerful framework of social protection; economic recovery and setting the country on a development path; considerable increase in minimum wage, abolition of sub-minimum wage for young people, creation of over 400,000 jobs with reformation and reinforcement of OAED [Greek Manpower Employment Organization], fight against delinquency in the job market; protection of crucial pillars of public wealth; reforms in climate and energy policies; completion of large infrastructure projects; reorganization of the discredited public health system (universal free access, founding of new hospitals, reinforcement of the ESY [National Health System], initiation of systematic organization of primary healthcare); reinforcement of the public education system; adoption of measures against gender hierarchy, for the promotion of women’s rights and important rights of the LGBTQI+ community; prosecution of all cases of corruption in the public sector.
The ND governance
The ND governance has fully reinstated the neoliberal one-way road in its “Greek” version. In a few words, this reinstatement is characterized by a fresh deregulation of labor relations with the abolition of fundamental rights, such as the right to a 40-hour workweek, by abuse of public funds, by recruitments in circumvention of ASEP [Supreme Council for Civil Personnel Selection], by partisanization of the independent authorities, by direct awards under unprecedented lack of transparency, by preventive legal protection of those engaged in cases concerning institutions, by scandalous funding of friendly media, by degradation of land planning, environmental, and regulatory functions, by abolition of tools of planning, regulation, and protection of space and environment.
More specifically, the reinstatement of the neoliberal “one-way road” is characterized:
At an economic level, by the freezing of wages and pensions, by the privatization of the few organizations that had remained under public control - even ESY [NHS] amid a pandemic, even DEI [PCP] amid an energy crisis -, by tax relief to higher incomes and properties, by unconditional and unlimited favors to specific private interests, by the soar of energy cost, by an uncontrollable price spike and the subsidization of profiteering.
All the above mentioned constitute a blend of “executive” policies that seek to combine a ruthless neoliberalism with traditionally right and center-right positions, but at the same time intensifies a state authoritarianism under an ideology that mixes extreme nationalism, religious bigotry, and intolerance. All with the decisive assistance – for a price, of course - of the systemic media.
The ideological cloak that the ND government has put on follows all the standard guiding criteria of neoliberalism (worship of the individual, hatred of anything collective, unconditional praise for competition), driven by a respectively disguised far-right ideology (radical revision of the country’s recent history, nationalism, “orthodox” fundamentalism, racism, homophobia, misogyny, islamophobia, anti-refugee hysteria, exacerbation of repression).
SYRIZA-PA’s political response
SYRIZA-PA’s political response was and is based on the following:
Support for the popular and democratic movements, which have started to develop dynamically.
Political expression of the popular and democratic demands, which are conveyed to the Parliament to be discussed with due institutional seriousness.
Formulation of a political plan for a full exit from the multiple crisis. Demand for immediate national election.
Programmatic preparation. An analytical government platform has been developed, and approved in KEA’s [Central Reconstruction Committee] programmatic conference.
Responsibility in dealing with the new ecumenical issue of the pandemic and relevant formulation of a set of specific institutional and costed financial proposals. Endorsement of rational restrictive measures and promotion of vaccination. Alongside severe criticism of the government’s delays and spasmodic measures that ignore the obvious hot spots of virus transmission and refuse the absolutely essential strengthening of the ESY [NHS] aiming to reinforce the private health sector instead.
Open invitation to the democratic and progressive parties, as well as to all the progressive political forces that are not represented in the Parliament, for systematic cooperation in issues of shared perception and common objectives: peace, effective dealing with the pandemic, price rises, natural disasters and climate crisis, protection and deepening of democracy. After the public expression of SYRIZA-PA’s demand that the ND government resign and national election be held, all the democratic and progressive are asked to take a stand on the most important political dilemma today: should the ND government remain in power or not?
Digital reorganization of SYRIZA-PA that will render the party capable of dealing with the needs of the times.
Greek society and the required democratic transformations
The general context
SYRIZA-PA is a party focused on its strategic goal, 21st century socialism, as expressed in its declaration. It endeavors to voice politically the social majority, to prepare and promote the ripe changes that strengthen the position of the many, aiming at reconstruction of production, environmental restructuring, environmentally sustainable and climatically neutral development. Development that needs to receive a creative shock in order to boom in terms of democracy, justice, and effectiveness. Thus, the major challenges of the times can find an answer: the escalating environmental destruction, which is directly linked to the pandemic and the climate crisis, the rapid deepening of the economic and social inequities, and the authoritarian deterioration of rights, which correlates to the intensifying threats to democracy itself. These are the three axes of SYRIZA-PA’s Programmatic Framework that was approved in KEA’s programmatic conference in July 2021, as mentioned above.
SYRIZA-PA will govern with the aim of the country changing orientation with transformations and ruptures that will release productive powers and human resources. This requires the full utilization of the country’s best elements, which have historically demonstrated their virtues and proven their durability: people who know how to work hard, educate themselves and adapt to even the harshest circumstances, a dynamic and flexible small and medium-sized entrepreneurship, a widespread resourcefulness, which, appropriately assisted, can impressively boost innovation.
These correlate to a major shift towards the very productive activities, the economy of the “real product” (primary and secondary sector), the incorporation of the environment and the cultural heritage as a form of a “surplus value” in benefit of - among others - the production sectors and quality tourism. At the same time, SYRIZA-PA will govern so that the comparative advantages of every region are utilized, local government and local communities are strengthened, the state itself is decentralized, and the long overdue institutional transformations are carried out regarding land and city planning, the cadastre, forest maps, the tax system, the public administration, and the substantial protection, management, and control of the environment. Our objective is to bring the world of labor to the foreground in a reliable rule of law.
Address
SYRIZA-PA addresses the working classes and the unemployed, the farmers, the pensioners, the young and the young workforce of “flexibility” and precarity, the Greeks who produce and create in the economy and culture, overcoming gender discrimination and the consolidated gender hierarchy.
SYRIZA-PA endeavors to express women with multiple roles and obligations that cannot balance their professional, family, and personal life while they are subjected to discredit and degradation. It endeavors to express professionals and scientists, small and medium-sized entrepreneurship that asphyxiates, the world of culture, the environmental movements and the rights movements.
SYRIZA-PA supports and reinforces the multilateral struggles of the Greek diaspora for its democratic representation.
SYRIZA-PA issues a call for dialogue and meaningful programmatic debate, a call to all the progressive organizations and parties to walk together. It calls on all the progressive forces of Greece to agree on a radical, realistic platform and join forces on a common program of progress that will offer the cause of progressive governance the necessary power to change society.
SYRIZA-PA aims at the formation of a great social majority with solidly forged bonds between its parts. A social majority that will band together and express itself politically in unison and in a way open to the changes and the developments of the moment. The party’s immediate political objective is to win in the next elections and form a powerful progressive government that will implement the changes and great transformations that Greek society urgently needs.
SYRIZA-PA’s programmatic proposal
The programmatic framework SYRIZA-PA has prepared focuses on labor, aims to reshape the country’s productive forces in all the sectors of economic activities with emphasis on the primary and secondary ones, on the reinforcement of small and medium-sized enterprises; transform the state with the objective – among others – of accelerating the essential investment; regroup the social state and the welfare state, with emphasis on the problems of the young; reorganize and reinforce public health, public education, and scientific research in all fields; promote in every possible way cultural creation and heritage and support “cultural workers”; democratize the state; strengthen the rule of law and the protection of democratic rights; enact gender equality and LGBTQI+ rights; treat refugees and migrants in terms of real democracy and human dignity.
SYRIZA-PA’s commitments of immediate priority in view of assuming government responsibilities
Of the explicit commitments described exhaustively in the Theses, the following are of immediate priority:
Immediate and effective protection of households and businesses from the unprecedented surge of price rises:
Increase in the minimum wage to 800 euros.
Reinstatement of the public character of DEI [PCP] and return of the company to the strategy of defending public benefit instead of that of increasing the profits of its shareholders.
Decoupling of the energy price from the price of natural gas and ceiling on the wholesale price of electricity. Our target is that during the very first days of the progressive governance the consumers will see on their electricity bills a minimum reduction by 50% of the increase they have seen since the beginning of the price rally.
Redesigning of the national energy strategy with acceleration of the renewable energy sources, postponement of the lignite phase-out and restart of utilization of lignite fields, aiming at energy sufficiency.
Acceleration of the strategic option of energy communities and their spread in local communities.
Immediate reduction in the Excise Duty on fuels to the minimum levels predicted by the European Commission for the duration of the crisis and total refund of the Excise Duty on agricultural diesel.
Reduction of the VAT for food and necessity goods to the lowest rate.
Tax on excess profits in energy and their full return to the consumers.
Recovery of labor
Reinstatement of all the regulations abolished by the Mitsotakis government (justifiable dismissal, eight-hour workday, protection of outsourced employment, electronic pre-declaration of overtime, etc.).
Reinstatement of the main principles of collective bargaining.
Re-establishment of the Labor Inspectors’ Service, for the enactment of strict rules that will block abuses of dismissals, of flexible working hours, and of undeclared work.
Gradual implementation of the 35-hour work week without reduction in wages.
Support to small and medium-sized enterprises and to farmers
Immediate settlement of debts created during the pandemic, with remission of part of their nominal value and at least 120 instalments for the rest.
Activation of substantial funding programs from the Hellenic Development Bank for small and medium-sized enterprises and farmers and special microcredit programs.
Redesigning of the resources of the Recovery Fund and the NSRF so that both the small and medium-sized entrepreneurship and agricultural production are included in the funding planning process.
Strengthening of the welfare state, new ESY [NHS] and support to pensioners:
New ESY: increase in the number of primary health units (from 127 to 380) in the whole country, adoption of the institution of family doctor, establishment of a network of integrated digital monitoring and home care. Massive recruitment of doctors and nurses, starting from those who fought on the first line against the pandemic, as well as the lift of the punitive suspension of employment contracts and restoration of their employment right in terms of health security. Readjustment of wage scales as an incentive for the recruitment of young doctors in the ESY with entry salary for doctors at 2,000 euros. Elimination of the need for a private nurse due to the recruitment of healthcare workers. Inclusion of health staff in difficult and hazardous occupations. New map of public health and a National Health System that will treat each patient according to their needs.
Pensioners: Refund of the relevant amount of money that the Mitsotakis government deprived them of so that it would cover the deficit created by the privatization of their supplementary insurance, with the enactment of the 13th pension anew.
Young generation
Holistic plan for the public education:
Reinforcement of Primary and Secondary Education with the necessary recruitment of teachers, as well as return of private education under the Ministry of Education and restoration of the legislation that governs the labor relations of private teachers.
Simplification of the access to the Tertiary Education with the enactment of free access to universities where the offered positions allow it.
Doubling of the number of university teaching and research staff and of the state funding to universities over the next four years, for free tuition in post-graduate courses and special funding to university research centers.
Formulation of a national plan for the reinforcement of housing for university students.
Strengthening of the right to housing for young people with a plan that will secure substantial public support to young couples for the first difficult years, with the creation of a Housing Bank and combined interventions so that we obtain a substantial reserve of homes available for young couples through an integrated policy that will combine tax incentives to the owners, limitation of short-term lease and floating subsidy to young people and young couples up to 40 years of age: ranging from 140 euros a month for individuals to 350 euros a month for couples with two children.
+1. Change of production paradigm:
Sustainable and fair development with a shift towards quality, products and services of high added value with a respective social and environmental footprint, based on human capital and particularly on highly trained young workers.
Increase of domestic production so that the country at last finds a sustainable and durable development road to the international division of labor.
Increase in the share of Gross Domestic Product to which the domestic manufacturing and industry contribute and improvement of the agricultural sector’s productivity and capability of covering the country’s basic needs.
Priority to green and digital transition with emphasis on the way their benefits are distributed throughout the entire society and economy, so that the green and digital transition will not become a new harsher source of injustice and inequality.
Decentralization of the production of electric power from renewable sources by households, small and medium-sized enterprises, farmers, energy communities, and municipalities, with securing the essential space for the electric power transmission system and respective funding tools from European resources.
Strengthening and expansion of energy-saving programs in homes, businesses, and public buildings with many more resources and appropriate funding tools.
Support to the research and the development of Greek enterprises in cooperation with universities and research institutes for the reinforcement of local production with short value chains and small environmental footprint in the agricultural sector and targeted measures for the reduction of production costs, for creation and encouragement of farmers to join cooperative organizations.
The party
SYRIZA-PA’s 3rd Congress is both a turning point and a continuation. The party - as a left, unified, democratic, pluralistic, open party in constant mobility – will carry on with the founding principles and values of the Left as a beacon, as these are stated in the preamble of its new statute, but also by implementing it faithfully.
SYRIZA-PA’s immediate objective is to win the next elections and form a powerful progressive government, which will promote the deep changes and the great breakthrough transformations that the Greek society urgently needs.
To succeed in this, SYRIZA-PA should expand everywhere, into every cell of the Greek society, discuss, learn, explain, convince and be convinced, help and be helped. SYRIZA-PA aims to include everyone who is inspired by the greatest traditions of the Left: the founding of EAM [National Liberation Front] and the National Resistance, the democratic struggles against the post-Civil War state, the 114 struggle, the struggles against the dictatorship and the Athens Polytechnic uprising, the post-dictatorship surge of workers’ and students’ radicalism, and the 1981 democratic eruption, however self-contradictory it may have been. The “New We” includes people with different traditions, people from the radical Left to the progressive center, who defend individual and social rights and freedoms.
The deep changes and the great breakthrough transformations that the Greek society needs is not a task that can be assumed by a single party. It is a task for the whole society itself, for the self-motivation and the formative action of the social classes, the groups and the people that constitute its vast majority.
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