IMF,latest news

 

Tools like foreign exchange intervention can ease the effects of shocks but need to be carefully weighed against potential longer-term co

Dear maria, We just published a new blog—please find the full text below.  How Africa Can Navigate Growing Monetary Policy Challenges (PHOTO: SWISSHIPPO/ISTOCK BY GETTY IMAGES) By Tobias Adrian, Gaston Gelos, and David Hofman Sub-Saharan African countries face important monetary policy challenges. The pandemic dented economic growth, and even now the recovery is likely to leave output below the pre-crisis trend this year. Several countries in the region have also seen inflation increase, a challenge that is in some cases compounded by fiscal dominance emanating from high public debt levels. Many of these economies may also face capital outflows as the major central banks in advanced economies withdraw policy stimulus and raise interest rates in the period ahead. The economic impact of the conflict raging in Ukraine—including the attendant sharp rise in energy and food prices—is likely to further intensify the challenges. How should countries in sub-Saharan Africa manage this volatile environment? Exchange rate considerations Countries with managed or free-floating exchange rate regimes generally benefit from allowing currencies to adjust, while focusing monetary policy on domestic objectives. That said, many countries in sub-Saharan Africa with floating exchange rate regimes have characteristics and vulnerabilities that can limit the benefits from fully flexible rates. For instance, dominant currency pricing (i.e., rigid export prices in US dollar terms) can weaken the beneficial trade adjustments associated with flexible rates. Moreover, shallow markets (i.e., markets with limited liquidity) can amplify exchange rate movements and yield excessive volatility. Foreign exchange markets tend to be shallow in many countries in the region, as evidenced by wide spreads between bid and ask prices. High foreign-currency denominated liabilities are also a key vulnerability in several economies. In the presence of large currency mismatches on balance sheets, exchange rate depreciations can undermine the financial health of corporates and households. And weak central bank credibility can cause exchange rate changes to have a bigger effect on inflation (high passthrough). Such currency mismatches and high passthrough can cause output and inflation to move in opposite directions following shocks, thereby worsening the tradeoffs that policymakers face. There is also evidence that the exchange rate passthrough in low-income countries is substantially higher than it is in more advanced economies, which poses a particular problem given the often heavy dependance on food and energy imports. How should countries that exhibit such vulnerabilities manage their policy responses? First, it remains important to reduce the vulnerabilities over time. This includes reducing balance sheet mismatches; developing money and foreign currency markets; and reducing exchange rate passthrough by building monetary policy credibility. Many of these are areas where IMF technical assistance can help. But in the near-term—while vulnerabilities remain high—the IMF’s work toward an Integrated Policy Framework suggests that using additional tools may help ease short-term policy trade-offs when certain shocks hit. In particular, where reserves are adequate and these tools are available, foreign exchange intervention, macroprudential policy measures and capital flow measures can help enhance monetary policy autonomy, improve financial and price stability, and reduce output volatility. For instance, simulations with the framework’s models suggest that in response to a sharp tightening of global financial conditions or other negative external financial shock, a country exhibiting such vulnerabilities could improve immediate economic outcomes by using foreign exchange intervention to reduce exchange rate depreciation and thereby limit the inflationary impact and reduce negative balance sheet effects. This results in higher output and lower inflation than would have been feasible without the use of the additional policy instrument. For central banks considering such policies, however, a few important qualifiers are in order. Importantly, the tools should not be used to maintain an over- or undervalued exchange rate. Moreover, while additional tools can help alleviate short-term tradeoffs, this benefit needs to be carefully weighed against potential longer-term costs. Such costs may include, for instance, reduced incentives for market development and appropriate risk management in the private sector. Communicating about the joint use of multiple tools in a more complex framework can be very challenging, too, and expanding the set of policy options may subject central banks to political pressures. Central banks will thus need to weigh the benefits against potential negative impacts on their own transparency and credibility, especially in circumstances where policy frameworks are not yet well established.   We Want To Hear From You! Click here for a 3-question survey on IMFBlog. Jeff Kearns Managing Editor IMF Blog jkearns@IMF.org   Thank you again for your interest in IMF Blog. Read more of our latest content here. Take good care!

Council of the EU:Main results - Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council, 4-5 April 2022

 

Meetings Monday 4 April 2022

● Council of the EU   04/04/2022 19:42 | MEETING | Main results - Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council, 4-5 April 2022   Ministers for culture and media and ministers for sport discussed the European response to the war in Ukraine in their respective policy areas. They also approved conclusions on reinforcing intercultural exchanges through the mobility of artists and multilingualism, on a European strategy for the cultural and creative industries ecosystem, and on sport and physical activity as a lever to transform behaviour for sustainable development. Meetings ONGOING Council of the EU Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council, 4-5 April 2022 Main results Culture, audiovisual, media and sport, 4 April 2022

Remarks by Paschal Donohoe following the Eurogroup meeting of 4 April 2022

 

Press material Monday 4 April 2022   ● Eurogroup   04/04/2022 22:03 | Statements and remarks | Remarks by Paschal Donohoe following the Eurogroup meeting of 4 April 2022   We are all appalled by the horrifying images of the attacks committed by the Russian army against civilians in Ukraine. We stand ready to step up sanctions and support for the people of Ukraine. It is important that we maintain our unity, that is why tomorrow at the Ecofin meeting we will discuss further actions. Today at the Eurogroup we focused on the consequences of the war on the euro area economy. We can see these clearly in energy and increasingly in food prices and the disruption of supply chains. For governments, citizens and businesses this creates uncertainty. We acknowledged that economic growth will slow down this year, but let me emphasise two points. Firstly, it is because of the risk of uncertainty that the Eurogroup stressed the need for our future trade policy to be agile and to respond to changing developments. Secondly, we entered this latest economic crisis with a strong recovery taking place within the euro area. This means that for many economies we are still looking at positive growth figures for 2022. This war is having an impact in terms of energy price increases and consequences on standards of living. We recognise the impacts on our society and cost of living in the short and in the longer term. We have highlighted the numerous policies in place to soften these impacts, particularly for the most vulnerable. In the medium term, our transition to alternative energy sources will happen much faster than we originally thought, which emphasises the pressing need to foster investments in the public and private sectors. In other areas such as food and raw materials, the war has led to price increases. The spike in prices of commodities on world markets is currently generating inflation in the euro area. As of yet, neither the Commission nor the ECB have detected signs of an inflationary spiral in the euro area. But this is something that we will be monitoring very closely. The Eurogroup acknowledged these significant costs to standing against the abhorrent actions that are now being inflicted on the people of Ukraine. The euro area has the strength to absorb these costs. Support is being provided by states to their citizens. The discussion today emphasised the value of building on the unity and coordinated action that we developed in response to the pandemic in order to effectively tackle the consequences of this war and maintain cohesion within the euro area. Our next discussion today was a very constructive exchange of views on the digital euro, in particular on issues related to privacy, and other policy objectives such as anti-money laundering. The ECB presented options for building appropriate privacy safeguards. The Eurogroup agreed that the design of a digital euro should accommodate privacy concerns while complying with the broader policy objectives and counteracting the use of digital euros for unwarranted purposes. A risk based approach could be followed to allow for more privacy in the case of less risky and smaller transactions. I also heard some support to explore a limitation of offline functionality to low value payments in close proximity. This could improve the financial inclusion objectives of the digital euro and of its convenience, potentially enhancing its overall success. We encourage the ECB and the Commission to continue with their work in this area. We'll be discussing the digital euro again in June, focusing on financial stability issues. Our third agenda item was a discussion on housing market developments and related policy implications. It is the first time we have discussed this issue in Eurogroup format, and it is part of our series of thematic discussions on issues in the euro area that are relevant to our work as finance ministers. The picture today was varied. In many economies the issue of affordability was raised with the knock-on effects on our citizens. We had a good discussion today on these challenges based on input from the Commission. We shared the different measures that are being taken at national level to respond to these challenges, while also recognising that the national specifics of housing markets vary a lot. It was also my pleasure today to welcome our new Portuguese colleague, Fernando Medina, to the Eurogroup meeting. Finally, together with our colleagues from Croatia and Bulgaria we invited the chair of the Supervisory Board of the ECB and the chair of the Single Resolution Board for the regular update on their recent activities and their assessment of the challenges facing the financial sector. They touched upon important topics such as the state of our banking system in the current geopolitical context and the recent resolution cases. These discussions showed that efforts to reduce risks in our banking systems are paying off, despite many challenges. The resilience of our banks has become an asset to our economies, as we respond back to a new test. I also took the opportunity to announce that I would be holding an extra Eurogroup meeting in inclusive format in early May. We will discuss my proposal for a work plan on banking union. We need a strong banking union to improve our competitiveness, strengthen our role in the world, and to fund the transition to a greener and more digital economy. We also need it to improve our resilience, stability, and the protection of taxpayers and depositors. I look forward to working with all the members of the Eurogroup in anticipation of that meeting

Eurogroup, 4 April 2022,Main results

Meetings Monday 4 April 2022

● Eurogroup   04/04/2022 22:43 | MEETING | Main results - Eurogroup, 4 April 2022   The Eurogroup met in Luxembourg to discuss the impact of the war in Ukraine on the euro area in the short and medium term, the preparation of international meetings, the digital euro, and the housing market developments in the euro area. In Banking Union format, ministers were informed on the recent activities and future priorities of the ECB Banking Supervision and the Single Resolution Board

Meetings

Eurogroup
Eurogroup, 4 April 2022

Main results


Highlights from the Eurogroup meeting of 4 April held in Luxembourg
Euro area macro-economic situation and outlook
The euro area impact from the war in Ukraine in the short- and medium term

Ministers discussed economic developments resulting from the Russian military aggression in Ukraine.

Monitoring and assessing these fast-moving developments is crucial for Eurogroup’s coordination of economic policies and promotion of the conditions for stronger economic growth.



This war is having an impact in terms of energy price increases and consequences on standards of living. In other areas such as food and raw materials, the war has led to price increases. We have highlighted the numerous policies in place to soften these impacts, particularly for the most vulnerable. The Eurogroup acknowledged these significant costs to standing against the abhorrent actions that are now being inflicted on the people of Ukraine. The euro area has the strength to absorb these costs. Support is being provided by states to their citizens. The discussion today emphasised the value of building on the unity and coordinated action that we developed in response to the pandemic in order to effectively tackle the consequences of this war and maintain cohesion within the euro area.Paschal Donohoe, President of the Eurogroup
Preparation of the international meetings

In preparation for the upcoming spring meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund, ministers looked into the global economic developments, risks and policy challenges, and took stock of exchange rate developments over the past months.

The threat Russia represents to regional security and prosperity and for global economic cooperation is also taken into account in the preparation of upcoming international meetings.
Trade-offs in the design of a digital euro between privacy and other policy objectives

Based on input from the ECB and the Commission, ministers discussed privacy considerations related to a digital euro and how they relate to other policy objectives, such as preventing money laundering, illicit financing and tax evasion.

This discussion followed the work plan on the digital euro, agreed by the Eurogroup in July 2021.


We had a very constructive exchange of views on the digital euro, in particular on issues related to privacy, and other policy objectives such as anti-money laundering. The ECB presented options for building appropriate privacy safeguards. The Eurogroup agreed that the design of a digital euro should accommodate privacy concerns while complying with the broader policy objectives and counteracting the use of digital euros for unwarranted purposes. A risk based approach could be followed to allow for more privacy in the case of less risky and smaller transactions. I also heard some support to explore a limitation of offline functionality to low value payments in close proximity. This could improve the financial inclusion objectives of the digital euro and of its convenience, potentially enhancing its overall success.Paschal Donohoe, President of the Eurogroup
Digital euro: privacy options (presentation by the ECB)
Thematic discussion - Housing market developments in the euro area and policy implications

Ministers held a thematic discussion on housing market developments, focused on housing affordability issues.

The discussion took place in the context of rising housing prices over the last years in the euro area.


It is the first time we have discussed housing market developments and related policy implications in Eurogroup format. The picture today was varied. In many economies the issue of affordability was raised with the knock-on effects on our citizens. We had a good discussion today on these challenges based on input from the Commission. We shared the different measures that are being taken at national level to respond to these challenges, while also recognising that the national specifics of housing markets vary a lot.Paschal Donohoe, President of the Eurogroup
Banking Union Update: including reporting on operational aspects
Fifteenth hearing of the Chair of the Supervisory Board

The Eurogroup was informed about the supervisory tasks carried out by ECB Banking Supervision, notably on the banking sector outlook and supervisory activity in the euro area in the context of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, on European banking supervision priorities, and on the broader financial regulation agenda.
Reporting on recent activities of the Single Resolution Board

The Eurogroup was updated on the recent activities undertaken by the Single Resolution Board (SRB), focusing particularly on recent resolution cases, SRB priorities for 2022, and the state of play on the Single Resolution Fund and the common backstop.

Meeting information

Luxembourg
4 April 2022
15:00
Preparatory documents
Note from the Commission: 'Housing Market developments in the euro area: housing affordability'
Draft agenda, Eurogroup
Draft annotated agenda, Eurogroup
Outcome documents
List of participants
SRB bi-annual reporting note 2022
Written overview ahead of the exchange of views of the Chair of the Supervisory Board of the ECB with the Eurogroup on 4 April 2022

Press releases
Remarks by Paschal Donohoe following the Eurogroup meeting of 4 April 2022
4 April 2022, 22:00

Highlights from the Eurogroup meeting of 4 April held in Luxembourg

 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,update

April 4, 2022
This message includes updates on the COVID-19 response from CDC. The COVID-19 Outbreak is a rapidly evolving situation and information will be updated as it becomes available.

Test to Treat
The new nationwide Test to Treat initiative provides quick access to free treatment for COVID-19. Through this program, people can get tested and – if they are positive and treatments are appropriate for them – receive a prescription from a health care provider, and have their prescription filled all at one location.

These "One-Stop Test to Treat" sites are available at hundreds of locations nationwide, including pharmacy-based clinics, federally qualified health centers, and long-term care facilities.

People can continue to be tested and treated by their own health care providers who can appropriately prescribe these oral antivirals at locations where the medicines are distributed.

A call center 1-800-232-0233 is available every day from 8:00 am to midnight ET to get help in more than 150 other languages.

The Disability Information and Access Line is available to help people with disabilities access services. Call 1-888-677-1199, Monday-Friday from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm ET or email DIAL@usaginganddisability.org.

Find Locations

COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters
As the country emerges from the Omicron surge—and we experience low COVID-19 Community levels in most parts of the country—CDC has updated its COVID-19 vaccination guidance to give some people the option to get a second mRNA COVID-19 booster dose (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna).
You can now receive a second booster dose if you:

Received the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine as both your primary and booster dose at least four months ago*
Are ages 50 years and older and received any booster dose at least four months ago
Are moderately or severely immunocompromised, ages 12 years and older, and received any booster dose at least four months ago

* A recent CDC study found that adults who received the J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine as both their primary dose and booster dose had lower levels of protection against COVID-19-associated hospitalizations, as well as emergency department and urgent care visits, during Omicron compared to adults who received an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine booster dose. As such, they may benefit from an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine booster dose and are now eligible to receive one.

Learn More

How to Improve Ventilation in Your Home

Below are ways you can improve ventilation in your home. Use as many ways as you can (open windows, use air filters, and turn on fans) to help clear out virus particles in your home faster.

Bring as much fresh air into your home as possible.
Bringing fresh, outdoor air into your home helps keep virus particles from accumulating inside.

Filter the air in your home.

If your home has a central heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system (HVAC - a system with air ducts that go throughout the home) that has a filter, learn how to help trap virus particles and improve ventilation.

Consider using a portable air cleaner

If you don’t have an HVAC system or just want extra filtration, consider using a portable high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) cleaner.

Turn on the exhaust fan in your bathroom and kitchen

With good ventilation, the concentration of virus particles in the air will be lower and they will leave your home faster than with poor ventilation.

Use fans to improve air flow

Limit the number of visitors in your home and the time spent inside

The more people inside your home, and the longer they stay, the more virus particles can accumulate.
Use the Interactive Ventilation Tool | CDC to learn how you can decrease the level of COVID-19 virus particles during and after a guest visits your home.

Learn More

COVID Data Tracker Weekly Review

CDC recently updated its COVID-19 vaccination guidance to give some people the option to get a second booster dose. This helps protect people who are at higher risk for severe COVID-19 illness.

Learn More
Subscribe

COVID-19 Community Levels

CDC uses COVID-19 Community Levels to determine the disease’s impact on counties and recommend prevention measures.

CDC also tracks cases, laboratory tests, vaccinations, deaths, and other pandemic data and provides them on our COVID Data Tracker.


Community Levels


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

 

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT latest news

Ευρωπαϊκό Κοινοβούλιο Briefing - Digital services act - 04-04-2022 03/04/2022 The rules governing the provision of digital services in the EU have remained largely unchanged since the adoption of the e-Commerce Directive in 2000, while digital technologies and business models continue to evolve rapidly and new societal challenges are emerging, such as the spread of counterfeit goods, hate speech and disinformation online. Against this backdrop, the European Commission tabled a new legislative proposal on a digital services act in December 2020. The proposal aims at amending the e-Commerce Directive and sets out a horizontal framework for content moderation of the EU online space. Interinstitutional negotiations between the Commission, the European Parliament and the Council seeking to reach an agreement on a compromise text started in January 2022. Controversial issues currently being discussed by the co legislators include the scope of the new regulation, the enforcement mechanisms proposed, and to what extent targeted advertising and techniques to influence users' behaviour such as 'dark patterns' should be curbed. Second edition. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure. Πηγή : © Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση, 2022 - EK Answer to a written question - Judicial cooperation in cases of international child abduction - E-000422/2022(ASW) 04/04/2022 See question(s) : E-000422/2022 Source : © European Union, 2022 - EP Answer to a written question - Measures to help the trade show and exhibition sector with regard to vaccines not approved by the EMA - E-000362/2022(ASW) 04/04/2022 See question(s) : E-000362/2022 Answer to a written question - Call for strike by road transport sector in Spain - E-005176/2021(ASW) 04/04/2022 See question(s) : E-005176/2021 Answer to a written question - Air passenger rights – people with disabilities - E-000260/2022(ASW) 04/04/2022 See question(s) : E-000260/2022

ΠΑΝΟΥ ΣΚΟΥΡΟΛΙΑΚΟΥ,ΒΟΥΛΕΥΤΟΥ ΣΥΡΙΖΑ,newsletter

Ανατολική Αττική


201η επέτειος Ελληνικής Επανάστασης – Γλυκά Νερά
25η Μαρτίου 2022.
Παρέλαση και κατάθεση στεφάνων στα Γλυκά Νερά για την 201η επέτειο από την Ελληνική Επανάσταση για την απελευθέρωση της πατρίδας.
Χρόνια πολλά!



Στη συναυλία ΕΙΡΗΝΗΣ και αλληλεγγύης στον ουκρανικό λαό
Πλήθος κόσμου στην χθεσινή συναυλία Ειρήνης, ενάντια στον πόλεμο στην Ουκρανία και αλληλεγγύης για τους πρόσφυγες.
Κι εμείς εκεί, back stage (που λένε).

Κοινοβουλευτικό Έργο






ΕΠΙΤΡΟΠΗ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ ΤΗΣ ΔΙΑΣΠΟΡΑΣ
Η τοποθέτησή μου για θέματα Ομογένειας στηνΚων/πολη
Στη συνεδρίαση της 29-3-2022 ο Σύλλογος Κων/πολιτών ενημέρωσε την Επιτροπή για τη δράση του και για θέματα που απασχολούν την Ομογένεια της Κωνσταντινούπολης.
Είχα την ευκαιρία να τοποθετηθώ για αυτά τα ζητήματα.
Ανέδειξα την ανάγκη προώθησης της πολιτιστικής διπλωματίας με την Τουρκία εκμεταλλευόμενοι δομές όπως το Σχολείο του Γαλατά που είναι κέντρο έντονης πολιτιστικής δραστηριότητας.
Έκανα εκτενή αναφορά στο ζήτημα της "Φυλακισμένης Βιβλιοθήκης" και στην ανάγκη ανάδειξης του ζητήματος διεθνώς.
Αναφέρθηκα επίσης σε εκπαιδευτικά ζητήματα, δημογραφικά προβλήματα της Ομογένειας, κοινές πολιτιστικές δράσεις όπως το Μπακαλχοράνι που θα αναπτύξουν δεσμούς.

 Αναλυτικά για την τοποθέτησή μου και video

Ερωτήσεις (συνυπογραφή)
Τροποποίηση της ΚΥΑ πολεοδόμησης του Ελληνικού χωρίς εισηγήσεις αρμόδιων υπηρεσιών και κατάργηση παραλιακού πεζόδρομου στην παραλία του Αγ. Κοσμά περιορίζοντας την πρόσβαση των πολιτών στην παραλία (προς τους Υπουργούς Περιβάλλοντος και Ενέργειας, Οικονομικών, Ανάπτυξης και Επενδύσεων) 24-3-2022

Στήριξη Ουκρανών Προσφύγων (προς τον Υπουργό Μετανάστευσης και Ασύλου)

Διατήρηση επιδόματος Βαρέων και Ανθυγιεινών Επαγγελμάτων στα πρόσωπα απασχολούμενα με την καθαριότητα των χώρων της δημόσιας εκπαίδευσης (προς τους Υπουργούς Οικονομικών, Παιδείας και Θρησκευμάτων)

Να επανέλθει η εφαρμογή του σκέλους του ΜΙ στα καύσιμα και να επεκταθεί σε όλα τα νησιά και στην Κρήτη (προς τον Υπουργό Ναυτιλίας και Νησιωτικής Πολιτικής)

Θα ανανεώσετε εκ νέου τις συμβάσεις εργασίας των καθαριστριών του ΕΦΚΑ που δικαιώθηκαν δικαστικά; (προς τον Υπουργό Εργασίας και Κοινωνικών Υποθέσεων)

Η κυβέρνηση Μητσοτάκη οδηγεί σε εξαθλίωση τα ταξί, δεν εφαρμόζει βασικές διατάξεις του νόμου 4530/2018 (προς τον υπουργό Υποδομών και Μεταφορών)
 Πλήρης κατάλογος ερωτήσεων

Αρθρογραφία

Φεύγοντας, άφησα το παράθυρο ανοιχτό
«Φεύγοντας, άφησα το παράθυρο ανοιχτό». Μια μικρή φράση είναι. Πέντε λέξεις. Έπεσα πάνω της το 2013, όταν αναζητούσα υλικό για μια παράσταση που ετοίμαζα για τη Μικρασία και την Κωνσταντινούπολη. Αυτή η φρασούλα δεν είναι λογοτεχνική επινόηση. Είναι κομμάτι από αφήγηση μιας Μικρασιάτισσας που έζησε τον ξεριζωμό του ελληνισμού από τις πατρογονικές του εστίες το 1922. Εκατό χρόνια πριν. Με συγκλόνισαν αυτές οι πέντε λέξεις. Τις έκανα θεμέλιο και άξονα της παράστασης «Στο Γαλατά ψιλή βροχή» που παίχτηκε στο Ίδρυμα Κακογιάννης.

Γιατί άραγε από οτιδήποτε άλλο αυτή η γυναίκα μένει στο ανοιχτό παράθυρο; Γιατί δεν αναφέρει το βιός, τα μνήματα των προγόνων, τη ζωή που είχε εκεί στην πατρίδα;

Διαβάστε τη συνέχεια στην Αυγή

Πάνος Σκουρολιάκος στο “Π”: Γαλάζιοι καβαλάρηδες

Ήταν απολύτως βέβαιοι πως μετά τη νίκη τους στις εκλογές του 2019 είχαν οριστικά ξεμπλέξει με την Αριστερά. Ξεχείλιζε αλαζονεία η στάση τους εντός και εκτός Βουλής. Έχοντας καταλάβει, ελέω εκλογικού νόμου, μεγάλο μέρος των εδράνων της Ολομέλειας, πολλοί και πολλές από αυτούς παρουσίαζαν μια εικόνα που δεν θα έλεγες πως ήταν και η πιο κόσμια. Αυτοί όμως που έδιναν ρέστα, κατά το κοινώς λεγόμενο, ήταν αρκετοί από τους μη κοινοβουλευτικούς υπουργούς. Απαξίωση απέναντι στους βουλευτές της αντιπολίτευσης, ιδιαιτέρως προς αυτούς/ές της αξιωματικής. Δεσποτικός τρόπος απεύθυνσης, συμβουλές και παραινέσεις αντίστοιχες του προσωπικού τους πολιτικού εκτοπίσματος.

Ο ξέφρενος καλπασμός της κυβερνητικής ξιπασιάς τους βρήκε πεδίο εφαρμογής και στο κυβερνητικό τους έργο. Αφού διπλασίασαν τους μετακλητούς υπαλλήλους σε σχέση με την κυβέρνηση του ΣΥΡΙΖΑ-ΠΣ, μείωσαν τον δείκτη των απαιτούμενων προσόντων τους. Επί ΣΥΡΙΖΑ το 95% θα έπρεπε να έχει πτυχίο ΑΕΙ, επί κυβέρνησης Μητσοτάκη αρκεί και το απολυτήριο λυκείου, για τους πάντες. Επιπροσθέτως, αύξησαν γενναία και τον μισθό των άριστων μετακλητών. Τι να πούμε για τα golden boys που διόρισαν σε οργανισμούς. (...)

Διαβάστε τη συνέχεια στο ΠΑΡΟΝ της Κυριακής
Μετάβαση στην ιστοσελίδα

Vasilissis Sofias 2, 10021, Athens, Greece

ΚΩΣΤΑΣ ΛΑΜΠΟΣ Διδάκτωρ Σχολής Οικ.Επιστημών Freie Universitat BERLIN: Πόλεμος και πολιτική στον 21ο αιώνα

 Πόλεμος και πολιτική στον 21^ο αιώνα

(Όταν το κεφάλαιο κάνει πόλεμο οι Λαοί πρέπει να μιλάνε για πολιτική)

 

Γράφει ο Κώστας Λάμπος

claslessdemocracy@gmail.com,

http://www.classlessdemocracy.blogspot.com,

 

Στον ορυμαγδό των προπαγανδιστικών πληροφοριών για τον ‘πόλεμο της Ουκρανίας’, τον ‘πόλεμο του Πούτιν’, για τον ‘πόλεμο μεταξύ Δύσης και Ανατολής’, για το τί, το πώς, το πού, το πότε, το γιατί και για ποιόν, η Πρωτοβουλία Διαλόγου για την Άμεση Δημοκρατία και τον αταξικό Ουμανισμό, καλεί σε διάλειμμα αναστοχασμού της σχέσης μεταξύ πολέμου και πολιτικής στο εδώ και τώρα και παντού, στον 21^ο αιώνα.

Αν είναι σωστό αυτό που ο Κλαούζεβιτς υποστήριζε και μετά από αυτόν όλοι ανεξαίρετα αποδεχόμαστε ότι δηλαδή, ο πόλεμος, δεν είναι παρά η συνέχιση της πολιτικής με άλλα μέσα, τότε θα πρέπει να δεχτούμε πως και η πολιτική δεν είναι παρά η συνέχιση του πολέμου με άλλα μέσα, οπότε θα πρέπει να μιλήσουμε και για την πολιτική και μάλιστα για την ουσία και για τον σκοπό της πολιτικής. Αντί όμως γι’ αυτό, εκείνοι που σχεδιάζουν και διεξάγουν τους πολέμους δεν μας αφήνουν να μιλήσουμε για την πολιτική και συστηματικά τις τελευταίες δεκαετίες μετατρέπουν τον πόλεμο σε καθημερινό, εντυπωσιακό και συνεχές θέαμα προκειμένου να μας οδηγήσουν στην αναγκαστική παραίτηση ακόμα και από το ψωμί, στην καθολική του έννοια, που σημαίνει παραίτηση από τα αναγκαία βασικά υλικά, κατά συνέπεια και από τα πνευματικά, χρειώδη, όπως την ελευθερία της σκέψης και την δημιουργικότητα της ατομικής, αλλά και της συλλογικής δράσης μας, στα πλαίσια μιας κοινωνίας των κοινών συμφερόντων, δηλαδή μιας κοινωνίας των ίσων.

Ας γνωρίσουμε λοιπόν την πολιτική, ως παράγωγο των Πολιτών και ως θεμελιώδη λειτουργία της Πολιτείας, δηλαδή την πολιτική ως πολιτισμό που αποσκοπεί στην βελτίωση της ζωής των Πολιτών και της Πολιτείας, όπως αυτή θεμελιώθηκε και λειτούργησε για εκατομμύρια χρόνια από τις λεγόμενες ‘πρωτόγονες’ εξισωτικές κοινωνίες που κατάφεραν, χάρη της ισότιμης συνεργασίας και της ανάλογης των δυνατοτήτων και των αναγκών προσφοράς και απολαβών του καθενός, αλλά και χάρη στην αρμονική συνεργασία των κοινωνιών με την Φύση, να εξασφαλίσουν τον εξανθρωπισμό και την επιβίωση του ανθρώπινου είδους. Η επιβίωση έφερε την πρόοδο και το πέρασμα της ανθρωπότητας από την φάση της αγριότητας και της βαρβαρότητας στη φάση του πολιτισμού, τον οποίο, όπως κορυφαίοι ανθρωπολόγοι και αρχαιολόγοι απέδειξαν, πρώτοι οι Έλληνες δια του Θησέα, που γύρω στο 1000 πριν από την σύγχρονη χρονολογία απελευθέρωσε την Αττική από το καθεστώς φόρου υποτέλειας στην ισχυρότερη Κρήτη, με την κατάργηση του απομονωτικού συστήματος της φυλής και του γένους και την θεμελίωση της πρώτης πολιτικής κοινωνίας, με την μορφή της Αθηναϊκής Δημοκρατίας[1]. Τα πολλά μικρά ‘βασίλεια’ της Αττικής ενώθηκαν, αναδιατάχτηκαν και μετασχηματίστηκαν σε ενιαία πολιτική κοινωνία και ως λαός, ο οποίος δια της άμεσης παρουσίας του στην Εκκλησία του Δήμου, αποφασίζει για το παρόν και για το μέλλον του. Ήταν αυτή η εξέλιξη της πολιτικής, από τον ‘Λαό, με τον Λαό για τον Λαό’, δηλαδή από όλους, με όλους, για όλους, που στηρίχτηκε στην κοινοκτημοσύνη πάνω στη γη, η οποία ανήκε μονοσήμαντα στο γένος, στην φυλή και αργότερα στον Δήμο και συνεπώς ανήκε ισότιμα σε όλους, χωρίς κανένας να μπορεί να ιδιοποιείται τους καρπούς της στερώντας τους από την πλειονότητα της κοινωνίας, που έγραψε διαχρονικά, εθιμικά και de facto τον ορισμό της έννοιας πολιτική, ως έκφραση των κοινών συμφερόντων των Πολιτών και της Πολιτείας.