DiEM25

DiEM25 condemns the militarisation of the Greek-Turkish border, the European Union’s violation of every principle of Humanism, the instrumentalisation of refugees both by the Turkish regime and Brussels, the abandonment of Greek islanders to their own devices – the list goes on and on.

DiEM25 calls for an immediate opening of all borders. The Greek-Turkish one and, more importantly, all borders within the EU. It is the only way the humanitarian crisis can be dealt with rationally and humanely, without resorting to military solutions under a cloud of hysteria.   

Τίποτα δεν τιμωρεί πιο βάναυσα η εξουσία από τη διαρροή των ένοχων μυστικών της. Και κανένας δεν αντιμετωπίζει μακρύτερη ποινή από τον Τζούλιαν Ασάνζ.

Ο Τζούλιαν κέρδισε το δικαίωμα να δανειστεί τη φράση ενός άλλου φυλακισμένου, ενός άλλου εχθρού της Αυτοκρατορίας – του Μαχάτμα Γκάντι. Όπως ο Γκάντι, ο Τζούλιαν θα μπορούσε να πει: Μπορείτε να με αλυσοδέσετε, να με βασανίσετε, ακόμα και να τσακίσετε το κορμί μου, αλλά ποτέ δεν θα μπορέσετε να φυλακίσετε το νου μου.»

• Μπορεί να το πει αυτό κάλλιστα.

Leaking the Guilty Secrets of Power is not a Phrase, it is a Sentence. And no one is facing a longer one today than JA.

Julian has GAINED the right to quote another past prisoner, another enemy of Empire, Mahatma Ghandi. Like Ghandi Julian could say: “You can chain me, you can torture me, you can even destroy this body, but you will never imprison my mind.”

He may very well say that.

But WE don’t have the right to agree.

We must NOT let THEM destroy his body.

WE must END his torture.

In November 2019, Intelligence Squared brought to its stage Brian and myself to discuss money, power and the prospects of a form of radical change that makes the world a better place for the many. Quick reminder: Brian and I are amongst the co-founders of DiEM25 – the Democracy in Europe Movement whose campaigns and insights (even if am saying so myself) are more urgent and relevant than ever (especially after Brexit!).

During 2015’s first half, as Greece’s finance minister, I participated in thirteen crucial Eurogroup meetings – before the SYRIZA government (disrespecting the referendum result of 5th July) capitulated. The result of that capitulation was my immediate resignation and a permanent austerity program (until… 2060). 

Ursula von der Leyen’s signature proposal co-opts the slogans of climate activism, but has none of the substance

Emergencies tend to reveal our true priorities. When our house is burning down or the storm waters are flooding in, we hold on to what we value most, and leave the rest behind.

Unter Meteorologen braucht es keine Meinungsvielfalt – so lange die etablierten Methoden fundierte Prognosen liefern. In den Wirtschaftswissenschaften, wo die Vorhersagen “allenfalls per Unfall” richtig lägen, sei das anders, meint der Ökonom und DiEM25-Initiator Yanis Varoufakis. Wenn die herrschende Lehrmeinung die Realität nicht mehr treffend beschreiben kann, brauche es alternative Blickwinkel. 

To my European Friends: I just wanted to tell you that, although my country has made the insane, childish and probably suicidal decision to leave Europe, I remain proud to be a European, and proud of the great social experiment that the EU represents. In my mind, I’m still in Europe, and that is where I will stay. For England it’s all over now, and the next generations will judge the results.

By leaving us, you are making us sadder, poorer and more prone to the errors that made so many of you vote for Brexit. The only solace I take from your departure is the thought that Brexit will convince you that a European Union should be invented even if it did not exist. And that it will convince us, on the Continent, to democratise properly the one we have so as to serve our people’s needs and, yes, to lure you back as well.