Western Europe
The new leadership of the German Social Democratic Party
Opportunists, lobbyists, careerists
By Ulrich Rippert, October 7, 2009
The latest change of leadership in the SPD has already made clear that the party is reacting to its recent defeat at the polls by maintaining its right-wing course.
Greece: New PASOK government to move quickly to impose austerity measures
By Stefan Steinberg, October 6, 2009
Following federal elections on Sunday, the Greek ruling class is banking on PASOK and the trade unions to enforce the pro-business and anti-welfare policies that Karamanlis and his New Democracy were ...
IMF chief economist calls for drastic UK spending cuts
By Robert Stevens, October 6, 2009
The International Monetary Fund has said Britain must introduce radical spending cuts, including raising the retirement age beyond 65 and introducing charges for health care.
Britain: BAe Systems faces prosecution for bribery
By Jean Shaoul, October 5, 2009
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is to ask the attorney general to prosecute arms manufacturer BAe Systems for bribing officials in South Africa, Tanzania, the Czech Republic and Romania.
Germany: The role of the Free Democratic Party in the next government
By Dietmar Henning, October 5, 2009
On Monday October 5, just one week after Germany’s federal elections, the Christian Democratic Union and Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) begin talks in Berlin with the neo-liberal Free Democratic P...
Britain: The denouement looms for Labour
By Chris Marsden, October 3, 2009
At its annual conference in Brighton, Labour indeed looked like a party that had “lost the will to live.”
Social Democrats suffer historical defeat in Upper Austria
By Markus Salzmann, October 3, 2009
As in neighbouring Germany, the Austrian Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) suffered a historic defeat in recent state elections, receiving just 24.5 percent of the votes cast, its worst showing since 194...
Germany: Whither the SPD?
The working class and the decline of social democracy
By Ulrich Rippert, October 3, 2009
The decline of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) vote to 23 percent was the product of a collapse in popular support, particularly in the working class.
A new period of class struggle and inter-imperialist conflict
By Chris Marsden, October 2, 2009
The following remarks were given by Chris Marsden, national secretary of the Socialist Equality Party of Britain, at an election-eve rally held Saturday, September 26, in Berlin by the Partei für Soz...
Workers Struggles: Europe & Africa
October 2, 2009
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Britain: Postal workers call for disaffiliation from Labour during strike ballot
By Paul Bond, October 2, 2009
Around 15,000 postal workers are thought to be involved in strikes affecting large parts of the UK, while a consultative ballot amongst London members of the CWU voted overwhelmingly for the union to ...
Britain: Leeds refuse strike enters fourth week
By our reporter, October 2, 2009
The strike by 600 workers employed in refuse collection, street cleansing and waste management in Leeds has entered its fourth week.
