International

Speaking against the prolongation of the denial of voting rights to Russia, SP Senator Tiny Kox, president of the United Left Group in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) said, 'The renewed suspension of Russia’s voting rights, and the consequent breaking by Russia of remaining relations with the parliaments of forty-six other European states, has brought a Cold War closer. I sorely regret the fact that Europe’s biggest platform for parliamentary diplomacy has allowed itself to be dragged along in the call for stiffer sanctions. These simply make relations with Russia more wretched and a solution to the civil war in Ukraine even more difficult. Parliamentarians who go along with this bear a heavy responsibility. I’m pleased that in the name of the Left Group in the Assembly I have been able to oppose this unnecessary and dangerous performance.’

On Friday 23 January SP Euro-MP Dennis de Jong, together with staffer Bart Linssen, paid a working visit to the Eurotunnel complex in Calais. Although the situation in Calais is alarming, new facilities have been built for trucks, and from the end of this year drivers will be able to count on complete checks being carried out on the French side, should they wish to have such a check carried out. This will mean that they no longer need worry about stowaways and the fines imposed when they are detected.

With Syriza’s inspiring victory, hope has won over despair. In Greece, but also in the rest of Europe.

Foto: SP

Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras

Greeks who want to see an end to austerity were, as election day dawned, hopeful and cynical in equal measure. Left party Syriza are heading for victory, despite a tough campaign to make Greeks afraid of the change for which they stand.

A report on the visit of SP leader Emile Roemer, General Secretary Hans van Heijningen, and former SP Senator Kees Slager to the United States.

Foto: SP

Emile Roemer and Hans van Heijningen in New York City

The European Central Bank (ECB) is at last showing the courage to buy up EU member states’ bonds after years of having cold feet. SP Member of Parliament Arnold Merkies is positive about the ECB’s decision, but argues that the Bank must do all in its power to ensure that the money goes straight into the real economy and not into bubbles in the financial markets.

The SP is asking the government to grant asylum to Edward Snowden as quickly as possible. On a Dutch news programme Snowden, still residing in Moscow, said that he was keen to come to the Netherlands and had applied for asylum, but that this had not been considered.

SP Member of Parliament Harry van Bommel wants to see the Netherlands urging Indonesia to abandon the death penalty. ‘Early in this year a delegation from the government, including the Prime Minister, will visit Indonesia,’ he explains. The opportunity presented by this trip to urge the suspension of the implementation of the death penalty should be grasped.’

From 9th to 12th January SP Member of Parliament Sharon Gesthuizen visited Lebanon, a country in which, to the normal population of 4.5 million must now be added 1.6 million Syrian refugees, many of them living under wretched conditions. ‘I travelled with the Refugee Foundation to a number of places including Bekaavallei in the east of Lebanon,’ Gesthuizen explains. ‘What we encountered there was unbelievably sad. It had been snowing really hard and the storm kept up during our visit. I’m extremely concerned about these refugees. They need urgent help to be able to protect themselves against the cold.’