Gabi Zimmer, president of the GUE/NGL Group on the elections in France and Greece:

"The results of the votes in France and Greece are a victory for the Left in Europe. We welcome the election of Francois Hollande as president of France and the huge success of the Greek left"

"The brutal austerity policies of Merkel and Schäuble that hit low and middle income earners have been rejected. Citizens are refusing to put up with the consequences of massive cuts to public spending in social policy, education and health," said Gabi Zimmer.

"The rules imposed by the Troika have served the interests of financial markets" continued Zimmer. "In the long term, if we pursue these policies, they will have dramatic consequences on the lives of the majority of European citizens. The future would mean more people working longer while their wages continue to fall. Unions face attacks on rights for which they have fought so hard and social security systems face privatization and dismantling. Such policies are responsible for the destruction of confidence in the institutions of the peoples, of their countries, and Europe."

"We must now regroup. Investments in public infrastructure and social services are long overdue. The elections are a reflection of reality - even the most sophisticated technocrats can not deny it! "

GUE/NGL Press Contacts:

David Lundy +32 485 50 58 12

Gay Kavanagh +32 473 84 23 20

Sonja Giese (DE) +32 486 94 50 21 

david.lundy@europarl.europa.eu

gabrielle.kavanagh@europarl.europa.eu

sonja.giese@europarl.europa.eu  

European United Left / Nordic Green Left

European Parliamentary Group

www.guengl.eu