Anarchist Boycott the Elections

poland / czech / slovakia | miscellaneous | other libertarian press Sunday October 21, 2007 19:15 by Laure Akai - Anarchist Federation, Praga

Whoever wins, the government still gets in

Snap elections are being held today, Oct. 21 in Poland. Members of the Anarchist Federation organized a series of anti-election actions as part of an ungoing campaign for electoral boycott.

All parties are just one big swindel!

In Warsaw, anarchists held street actions Oct. 20 against the Oct. 21 elections. The anarchists called for a boycott to the elections and for the promotion of grassroots direct democracy and anarchism instead. Besides the action, a giant billboard was erected in the center of the town. These actions were just the final part of a nationwide campaign against the elections. Another street action had been held in Poznan a few days earlier and postering and leaflet actions all over the country.

However they vote for, the government will get in. People are still giving over power and are unable to decide on concrete issues as they come up since politicians are given an open mandate to decide as they will. Almost all parties are dominated by their capitalist sponsors - be they proponents of neo-liberal globalism in the framework of the EU and global capitalism, or proponents of isolationist and protectionist nationalism. We say no to all of them, to their laws and state judicial repression created to protect the rich and the employing, financial speculative class.

A more in-depth look at the anti-election campaign, including photos, can be found here: http://cia.bzzz.net/anarchists_and_the_elections This article also briefly examines why some anarchists fell into the trap of electoral politics and gives a small explanation about the different parties in Poland.

For Polish speakers, there are two boycott pages with articles and graphics:
www.bojkot-wyborow.org
www.wybierasz.com