YOUTH across Europe are a revolutionary force that are ready to rise up against the ‘generation in power’ in their countries and in the EU, and bring them down, breaking up the European Union, a survey called ‘Generation What?’ has confirmed.
The results of the survey has left the European Union both stunned and alarmed. These were not the results the EU expected or indeed hoped for as the EU actually sponsored the survey.
Around 580,000 respondents in 35 countries were asked the question: ‘Would you actively participate in large-scale uprising against the generation in power if it happened in the next days or months?’ More than half of 18- to 34-year-olds answered ‘YES’.
This European-wide youth uprising is not, however, something for the next days or months; it is already well under way. Last month, half a million Romanians were on the streets against government corruption. In France, there are bloody clashes between youth and police every day. In both Italy and Spain, youth anger has erupted in mass demonstrations against unemployment and homelessness, while Greece is in a state of permanent revolution.
In Greece, which has been savaged by the EU, the survey revealed that young people were particularly determined to launch a large-scale uprising against their government, with 67 per cent answering ‘YES’ to uprising.
In Italy and Spain young people voted 65% and 63% that they were willing to join a large-scale uprising. More than half of the young people in Ireland ‘would join a mass uprising against the government’.
In France, 61% of youth voted ‘YES’ to rise up against their government. French youth have been battling against police brutality in the suburbs of Paris since the beginning of the year. During the French election, the situation has escalated.
What has happened in France is no small thing – huge events are taking place. The main parties on which the 5th Republic was based have been booted out in this election, clearing the way for the struggle for a French Socialist Republic.
Teenagers in France are holding rallies in Rennes and other cities to protest against both presidential candidates. Some protesters blockaded schools, while others marched towards the city centre with placards that read ‘Expel Marine Le Pen, not immigrants,’ and ‘We don’t want Macron or Le Pen.’
The 5th Republic is dead. French youth know it and they don’t want Le Pen or Macron, they want revolution. The only way forward for France is through a workers socialist republic. It is the same throughout Europe. Millions of youth the length and breadth of Europe have grasped that the only way that they are going to get a future is through revolution.
The old capitalist institutions of the European Union, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund are absolutely hated. Since the global crash of 2007/08 they have made the working class, students and youth pay for the economic crisis.
Schools, libraries and youth centres have been shut, health, education and housing privatised, millions of families have had their homes repossessed, and been evicted because they can no longer pay their rent and made homeless. All of this to pay for the mountain of debt accumulated by the speculation of the banks.
After almost a decade of austerity the working class of Europe has had enough and protests, rallies, riots, strikes and general strikes are spreading like wildfire. When in Britain the working class defied all established parties and voted to quit the EU, it was confirmation that revolution is stalking Europe.
Revolution, however, requires revolutionary leadership. That is why sections of the 4th International must be built across Europe, of which the WRP and the YS are the British section.
The source of the problems that young people face, no jobs, no housing, no education, no future … are problems of the death agony of the capitalist system. They cannot be resolved under capitalism. It is only through getting rid of capitalism that young people can win a future. Our slogan must be: Down with the EU – Forward to the United Socialist States of Europe!