The protests including strikes, which affected the transport sector, grounding flights and causing the cancellation of some bus and train services. Banking services and other businesses were also affected. Observers said that the stoppage was biggest in 20 years.
De Ceukelaire said that the PCP led the discussion at all levels, from its local groups in factories up to its representation in the parliament. He shared that the party also had a strong showing in the recent elections, securing two seats in the national assembly out of a total of 16. It also posted the highest vote total of the 21st century despite a voter turnout of less than 60 percent nationwide.
In a message to the public, the PCP’s secretary general Jerónimo de Sousa said that that the protests had its roots in the consolidation campaign they built since the elections. According to him, there was widespread awareness about the country’s real problems and about those responsible for the crisis.
In Greece, the most visible expressions of people’s protest were the massive rallies in the streets of Athens and other big cities and general strikes. While protests continue, people’s committees were established in neighborhoods and villages across Greece. Workers, farmers, independents, women and youth organized to strengthen resistance.
The people of Greece bannered the issue of health care during the protests. They called for free health care and higher allocations for public hospitals. In the regions, the focus was on access to care for the unemployed. In Larissa, a city in the center of Greece, the elderly joined protests; they occupied the offices of the social security agency and demanded a meeting with the director.
Topple the government colluding with the IMF
Nikos Noulas, an ILPS delegate from Greece and representing the Union of Working People group, explains that the nationwide protests in his country are against the “troika” comprised of the International Monetary Fund, European Union, and the European Central Bank.
“The people of Greece will continue to hold militant but peaceful mass demonstrations in our country’s various squares (plazas and public gathering areas) to demand the removal of the troika. We are also demanding that Prime Minister George Papandreou steps down immediately,” he said.
Noulas explained than since May 24, thousands have gathered in a protest camp in Syntagma Square in Athens. They have put up tents and makeshift kitchens and daily hold programs and discussion groups on the economic issues affecting Greece.
“We know the problems, we know the culprits behind them: what we want now are solutions. The only solution we want in the immediate is for the leaders of government colluding with the IMF, EU and the European Central Bank to step down,” he said. He explained that among the popular symbols in the Greek protests are that of a stylized helicopter.
“It symbolizes what we want: for all the corrupt officials in government to get on a helicopter, leave the country and never return. The protests that begun on May 24 continue to this day, and we don’t see them stopping any time soon. The people of Greece are united in demanding change, and we will not stop until we overthrow this government and ” he said.
On June 15, police lobbed teargas outside the Finance Ministry where a mass protest while taking place. Syntagma Square was quickly enveloped in fumes which included asphyxiant gas, which is said to severely inhibit breathing. Stun grenades also exploded.
“The government used violence against us, but we were not cowed. We are inspired by the protests in Southern Europe — in Portugal and in Spain; we are inspired by what the people of northern African countries are doing — taking history in their hands and ousting corrupt presidents. We know that it is possible to change the situation the country is facing; and we want to change the country’s direction. The path set by the troika is not one we want to follow, not even for a single day; we will set a different path, go toward a different direction where we can realize true national independence and lay the foundations for socialism,” he said.
The economic crisis continues to sweep through Europe, but like what is happening in Africa, the people of Europe especially the sectors of the working people are not taking things sitting down.
At the end of his presentation, De Ceukelaire said that in discussing people’s resistance in Europe, certain conclusions can be made.
“First, monopoly capital exploits the working class not only in its former colonies but also in Europe, and the current economic crisis has sharpened the class contradictions at home. Second, the strength of the labor movement matters in these circumstances. Without solid trade unions, popular committees and workers’ parties, the future of the resistance movement is uncertain. It is where these organizations are taking strong roots among the people that the resistance has the best prospects. Third, reactionary forces are still strong in Europe while the forces of resistance are relatively weak. As the crisis of capitalism is worsening, its inability to solve the rising contradictions will become clearer for the workers. The challenge is to consolidate their organizations so they will be able to tilt the balance of forces in their advantage,” he said. 
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