population of Athens
All that should convince us that the risk of running out of steam can be excluded for the moment and that the usefulness of the process of forums has once again been demonstrated.
Among the questions that were posed in the forum was the participation of political parties in social forums.
In London the parties, in particular the British ones, didn't intervene as such in the debates, but occupicu an unreasonably large provoking general irritation.
This time the political parties were able to intervene as such in the main debates, alongside trade unions and associations.
Up until now the barrier to this came essentially from the French side. It is difficult not to think that this turn, if it is confirmed, is linked to the unitary campaigns conducted over recent months, in particular against the European Constitutional Treaty. All the same, that doesn't mean that the problem has been resolved.
We have to think in particular about the ways in which parties can intervene and of the limits that have to be set, in particular to avoid some of them using the forums as a platform, OT considering them as just an arena of confrontation with rival parties.
But difficulties remain. On the political level the Italian situation weighs heavily. The trade union front seems today to be a bit paralysed.
The self-justifying interbetween the global justice activists and the ventions by the majority of the Partv of Communist Refoundation - which supports the Union (centre-left coalition) presided over by
ex-President the European Commission, Romano Prodi, who is today heading the government Introonced "recentred" political tone that we must learn to combat.
Furthermore, there remains uncertainty aboul the place and the date of the next ESF. But after the success of Athens edition, it is certain that the next European assembly September will give a positive answer to these questions
The LCR and the Fourth International were very much present in Athens, in particular through the debates in which their representatives took part, along with other political currents, but also with trade unions and associations.
These debates dealt with Europe, ecology, the future of the anti-capitalist left, international question and the mobilisation against the CPE.
Our visibility was also ensured by a free newspaper that was massively distributed and by a significant pres
ince in the demonstration or Saturday. • Ingrid Hayes is a member of the National Leadership of the LCR (French section of the Fourth International, with particular responsibility for work in the global justice movement.