International

Police estimate that 35,000 demonstrators took part in today's protest march through London. The mass demonstration, which passed close to a number of government and parliament buildings including 10 Downing Street itself, was directed against the G20, the gathering of twenty-two of the world's richest and most powerful countries which takes place in Britain's capital on Thursday. A delegation of SP members, amongst whom was Dennis de Jong, the party's number one on the list for the European Parliament elections on June 4th, and Senator Tuur Elzinga, took part in the demo.

Dennis de Jong, number one on the SP list for the European elections, talking to Agnes Jongerius of Dutch trade union federation the FNV, during the London demonstration.

Bogged down

Discussions at the G20 will focus on what to do about the economic crisis, but the demonstrators have little faith in the possibility of an intelligent approach. “All that seems in prospect are some ideas for improved surveillance of financial institutions," says Dennis de Jong. "But just as in the Netherlands the parliamentary enquiry into the causes of the credit crisis demanded by the SP has never got off the ground, the G20 also seems set to get bogged down in primarily technical measures. At the very best such measures could lead in the short term to a calming of the financial markets, but the structural causes of the crisis won't be addressed in this way an technical measures won't put an end to the culture of grab-what-you-can. Those responsible have hardly been touched and there is no guarantee that if things start to pick up, higher bonuses won't once again rear their ugly heads.”

Dennis de Jong and SP Senator Tuur Elzinga during the demonstration in London.