Austerity Measures Against the People of the Socialist Nations Lead to NWO Orchestrated Protests

In Obama's speech at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C. on March 28, 2011, it was not clear if the United States would intervene to help every nation in the region but President Obama stayed upbeat saying, "Born, as we are, out of a revolution by those who longed to be free, we welcome the fact that history is on the move in the Middle East and North Africa, and that young people are leading the way." Without naming other nations in the region where protests are going on, Obama noted that, "a new generation is refusing to be denied their rights and opportunities any longer." - Obama justifies usage of military power, avoids defining exit-vision for Libya, AHN News, March 29, 2011

Protests Against 'Austerity Summit' Turn Violent

European leaders at the EU summit agreed to a ‘pact for the euro', which commits states to wage restraint; a reduction in public services; limiting government borrowing; and to move away from labour-based taxation towards consumption-based taxation. And by increasing the size of the existing bail-out fund, delivering a big enough permanent bail-out fund and committing to radically pare back the welfare state, the EU hopes to convince markets that they have their economic house in order. - EU summit on 'comprehensive' crisis response to leave loose ends, EUOBSERVER, March 24, 2011

March 24, 2011

EUOBSERVER - Trade union protests outside an EU summit in Brussels against the austerity being imposed across the continent by the bloc turned violent on Thursday (24 March), as riot police battled rock-wielding demonstrators with water cannon and pepper spray.

Four separate marches across the European capital comprising some 20,000 workers, according to organisers, converged on the meeting of European premiers and presidents. Police put the figure closer to 12,000.

The unions are protesting the imposition of the deepest level of economic integration in the EU's history - the delivery of 'economic governance' in the union that will require wage restraint, hikes in retirement ages, public sector cutbacks and limits on government spending, amongst other stringent measures.

"This happens while bankers and CEOs are continuing to receive huge and scandalous bonuses and pay and very little has been done to remove what really causes the crisis," ETUC said in a statement.

"The European trade union movement stands clearly against these policies and states that this is not only unfair because the burden is carried only by the ones who are not responsible for the crisis, but also wrong from a economic and strategic point of view."

Giant banners demanding: "Competitiveness Pact: No. Austerity Pact: No. Solidarity Pact: Yes" were draped by campaigners covering the centre of the roundabout at the top of the European quarter.

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The violence kicked off after a few dozen red-dressed members of the Belgian socialist trade union, the General Federation of Belgian Workers (FGTB) attempted to break through police barricades and threw objects at the police.

According to police, 12 officers were injured in the clashes, which shut down traffic on much of the ring road surrounding the centre of the city. By mid-afternoon, the demonstrations had begun to wind down.

Similar actions were due to take place in Spain and Germany, according to trade unions, with a further major more nationally-focussed anti-austerity march to hit London on Saturday.

The demonstrations are part of a series of rolling actions across Europe. On 16 March in Bucharest some 50,000 workers hit the streets, according to the European Trades Union Congress and on 9 April in Budapest, Hungary's six trade unions are to descend upon a meeting of EU finance ministers.

Despite the violence, the protests in Brussels were actually scaled back from what the FGTB had originally threatened. Earlier this month, the union central had said it wanted to shut down air traffic control, the Eurostar train and all highways leading into the capital, but other unions felt such action went too far.

The anger highlights concerns expressed yesterday by one EU diplomat who told reporters that the cuts need to be imposed "as quickly as possible, very quickly when it comes to the most unpopular measures" in order to not get bogged down by such opposition.

EU Council President Herman Van Rompuy denied that economic governance targetted working people:

"To the people demonstrating outside, I say: 'We take your worries seriously, but what we do is not about dismantling social protection. It is about making sure that our economies are competitive enough to create jobs and sustain the standard of living for all our citizens."

Demonstrators stalk Greek ministers across Europe

The protest came after a group of demonstrators invaded an event in the European Parliament on Wednesday evening where the Greek culture minister, Pavlos Geroulanos, was speaking.

A group of young Brussels-based Greeks unveiled a banner denouncing the European Union and the International Monetary Fund during a celebration in Brussels of the 2500th anniversary of the Battle of Marathon, when Athenians managed to resist an attack by the Persian Empire. Protester Yiorgos Vassalos interrupted a film about the historical event, describing the EU and IMF as an "occupation force" akin to the "barbarians" that fought the Greeks two and half millennia ago.

While organisers were not pleased with the invasion of their event, the protesters received applause from many of those in the largely Greek audience in the packed EU parliament chamber.

In the last week, protestors have organised flash-mob-type actions when Greek ministers have appeared in public in different countries, including interrupting a speech by Prime Minister George Papandreou at Humboldt University in Berlin and an event in Paris attended by deputy premier Theodoros Pagalos.

On Wednesday, the Greek minister of labour, Louka Kasteli, was confronted by a group of angry unemployed workers who shouted him down and took over a press conference in the region of Macedonia. Similar protests trailed visits by Papandreou to the island of Syros last week while Pagalos was also found himself trapped in a taverna for two hours in the town of Kalyvia as a crowd of 500 furious locals hurled insults and yogurt at the MP.

Aris Chatzistefanou a reporter with Skai media group in Greece told EUobserver the anger in the country is boiling over even amongst regular citizens:

"Not a single person from each of the main two parties can walk through the centre of Athens without being assaulted."

"MPs have stopped going to restaurants they used to go to. Not just because they are worried they will be shouted at or attacked. The restaurant owners are telling them not to come because it's bad for business."

Select Member States Announce New Austerity Measures

March 25, 2011

EUOBSERVER - A two-day summit in Brussels saw fresh cuts and restructuring announced by a series of member states who wished to "go beyond" that which has been agreed within the fresh euro-plus pact.

"A number of colleagues already announced this morning their concrete commitments under the pact," European Council President Herman Van Rompuy told reporters at the end of the summit. "They are: Spain, France, Belgium and Germany."

It is thought that Slovakia was also preparing further measures.

But eyes were in particular cast in the direction of Madrid to see what new moves will be enacted to stave off contagion from Portugal, which is widely expected to become the third country to apply for a bail-out.

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero told reporters he had already spoken to trade unions about the new measures and is set to discuss the matter with employers on Saturday and subsequently other political parties.

Included amongst the moves will be an adaptation of rules relating to collective bargaining, a "rigorous" review of government decision-making regarding competitiveness that will be presented to the EU Council of Ministers on 1 April, and a widening of access to vocational education with an aim to boosting productivity.

Zapatero said that as a result of existing restructuring and cuts as well as the fresh measures,

"We have set the conditions to ensure that the situation in Portugal will not deliver any contagion effect to Spain."

Separately, Portugal's caretaker prime minister, Jose Socrates said that he does not want to see Lisbon lose sovereignty over decision-making the way that Athens and Dublin have as a result of their bail-outs.

"I have seen what happened to Greece and Ireland and do not want the same happening to my country. Portugal will manage on its own, it will not require a bail-out," he said.

"This domino of countries asking for a bail-out one after the other has to end. The ball stops here, with Portugal." restructuring and cuts as well as the fresh measures, "We have set the conditions to ensure that the situation in Portugal will not deliver any contagion effect to Spain."

Separately, Portugal's caretaker prime minister, Jose Socrates said that he does not want to see Lisbon lose sovereignty over decision-making the way that Athens and Dublin have as a result of their bail-outs.

"I have seen what happened to Greece and Ireland and do not want the same happening to my country. Portugal will manage on its own, it will not require a bail-out," he said.

"This domino of countries asking for a bail-out one after the other has to end. The ball stops here, with Portugal."

Hungary

Meanwhile one of the more surprising outcomes of the summit has been Hungary's resistance to signing on to the augmented pact despite the country currently holding the EU's six-month rotating presidency.

Prime minister Viktor Orban has stressed that his opposition to joining the euro-plus-pact lies with its proposals around tax policy, noting that a number of other countries also have problems with a Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base (CCCTB), including Lithuania, Slovakia, Cyprus, Malta and the UK.

In refusing to sign on to the pact, Orban has crossed something of a Rubicon in the country's relations with the EU. Since joining the bloc, Budapest has always been frightened of a two-tier Europe and worked hard to stay at the heart of EU decision-making.

This is the first time that Hungary has decided not to sign on to new integration measures.

Portugal Plunges into Uncertainty as PM Resigns

March 24, 2011

EUOBSERVER - Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates has offered his resignation after opposition parties unanimously rejected the government's latest package of austerity measures.

Wednesday's (23 March) vote means early elections are now likely to be held in the southern EU member state, with the additional uncertainty also increasing the chances of Portugal needing an international bail-out.

Socrates, from the centre-left Socialist Party, said Portugal would suffer "deeply negative consequences" if it had to call on financial support, accusing the opposition's rejection as "mere hunger for power".

A grand coalition between the Socialists and centre-right Social Democrats is still a faint possibility, with Portuguese President Anibal Cavaco Silva set to meet party leaders on Friday to assess the possible options.

Socrates will now attend a summit of European leaders in Brussels on Thursday as a caretaker prime minister, lacking the political authority to negotiate a deficit-reduction plan as originally intended.

A political vacuum in Lisbon would also complicate negotiations for an international aid package, should it be needed, with Portugal's electoral law stipulating that 55 days must pass between the dissolution of parliament and the holding of fresh elections.

Portugal's Socialist government has desperately sought to avoid calling on EU and IMF financial support like Greece and Ireland, implementing three austerity packages of spending cuts and tax hikes in a bid to reassure markets that the country can overcome its mountain of debt.

The moves have proved deeply unpopular with Portuguese citizens however, prompting a series of strikes and protests over the past year.

A fourth austerity package in 11 months, rejected by all opposition parties on Wednesday, has also angered trade unions, with train engineers walking off the job during the morning commute, causing widespread travel disruption ahead of the vote.

Opposition parties argued the government's latest plan goes too far, hurting weaker sections of society, especially pensioners who will pay more tax. Some analysts have suggested however that a ruling centre-right Social Democrat government would be unlikely to make substantial changes.

Prior to the vote, Social Democratic lawmaker Luis Montenegro said his party had "the patriotic duty ... to stop the Socialist government going down the wrong, dead-end path."

EU leaders had hoped to reach a 'grand bargain' at Thursday's European Summit, in order to bring an end to financial market doubts over government finances and the stability of the eurozone.

Portugal's leadership vacuum and political wrangling in Finland and Germany this week have cast doubts over the self-imposed deadline, however.