Change for Greece

ECOSY expresses its concerns regarding the riots in Greece

ECOSY – Young European Socialists has been closely following the recent developments in Greece after the assassination of the 15-year old pupil Alexandros Grigoropoulos. We express our deep sorrow for the unfair and unexcused death of a young person, our full support to the protests of the young people of Greece and our strong concern for the explosion of violence in many Greek cities.

We believe that young people in Greece but also all over Europe, are right to protest against neo-conservative and neo-liberal policies which draw a dark and pessimistic future for them. The economic crisis will affect us, the young generation, more than anybody else. Expensive and low-quality education, precarious employment, lack of social security and defective healthcare are creating a new generation of working poor, which sees its expectations and perspectives for a better future demented. We demand from our socialist, social democratic and progressive leaders to respond to this crisis in a concrete and clear way, to involve young people in policy- and decision-making, to meet the expectations and needs of our generation for a fair, democratic, peaceful, and safe future. This is solidarity between generations, this is Our Social Europe.

We support PASOK Youth and PASOK in their strong demand for change of government in Greece and we entrust that George Papandreou, as the future Prime Minister of Greece, will fulfill his clear and concrete commitments for the young people. At the same time, we stand next to them, supporting their full condemnation of violence, from wherever it derives, against innocent people and properties. Democracy and fair society do not hide behind masks, violence or tear gas – they only come with open dialogue, clear ideas and concrete plans.

We need Change for Greece, and Change for Europe!