[The programme of Mario Soares' new rightwing Socialist-Christian…]

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The programme of Mario Soares' new rightwing Socialist-Christian Democratic coalition government runs to 300 On every page is some new burden which is to be imposed on the workers and peasants.

Every page speaks clearly of the sordid history of betrayals which has brought supposed workers leader Soares to the head of a bourgeois coalition government, openly devoted only to one strategy-the rehabilitation of Portuguese capitalism and the protection of imperialists' interests.

In the wake the general strike and uprising, the Bourguiba government is now Soares' own words make this as plain as it could be:

"It is important to talk [!] about socialism and socialist options but we must all agree that the building of Socialism is now less important than the economic recovery of the country if we are to save Portuguese democracy..."

"All the responsible politicians of this country more or less emphasised the necessity to reduce the balance of payments deficit, which is only viable through policies of austerity resulting in very high social costs that cannot be ignored..."

Sections of Soares' own party have reacted sharply to the formation of the of 1965 and lacking any independent political organisation, Tunisian workers were unable to resist these attacks and betrayals immedcoalition.

Former 'left' Agricultural Minister, Lopez Cardoso has seized the opportunity to unite his tiny breakaway section of the Socialist Party with other small organisations of 'left' opportunists to form the Union of the Democratic Socialist Left.

Christening

Present to give their blessing at the christening of this new opportunist block were both former darlings of the "left' Major Otelo de Carvalho who played such a pernicious demagogic role in 1974 and 1975, and Major Melo Antunes, leader of the attempted to carry on with his balancing act, buffeted by strong cross-winds: he defended the demands of the strikers, but claimed that "Group of 9" army officers who in mid-1975 intervened at a crucial moment to try to head off the revolutionary movement of Portuguese workers.

Carvalho

ETHIOPIA

Refugees from Ethiopia report that 3,500 people have been killed in the purges of leftists carried out by the ruling military junta since Cuban and Russian advisors arrived four months ago. As the Derg continues its reign of terror, a counter-offensive is being launched with Cuban support to regain Ogaden from the Somali armies, and wrest territory from the liberation forces in Eritrea.

SCANDINA VIA

The continuing ravages of the capitalist crisis have been revealed in recent figures from northern Europe. Unemployment in both Denmark and Finland has reached 9%, while inflation in Finland soared to 13% last year. The Popular Front government has imposed a wages freeze, and the Norwegian government is expected to follow suit shortly after the introduction of its new battery of austerity measures.

The reflationary strategy of the Fianna Fail's last budget has been seriously threatened by the breakdown of talks with union leaders. The government's demand of a 5% limit on wage rises has been countered with claims for 12%, which would still lag far behind inflation. Lynch's government has replied with the fantastic argument that its budget measures would cut unemployment by half of its current 12%.