France's far-right political dynasty have been dragged into the 'Panama Papers' scandal, as Front National (FN) founder, Jean-Marie Le Pen, and several aides of his daughter and party leader, Marine, were accused of stashing wealth away in offshore tax havens.
The allegations were made by Le Monde, one of more than 100 media outlets involved in analysing more than 11 million documents leaked from secretive Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca.
According to the newspaper, 87-year-old firebrand Jean-Marie is suspected of dissimulating part of his multimillion assets through a shell company set up by his former butler, Gerald Gerin, in the British Virgin Islands. The company, Balerton Marketing Ltd., was allegedly used to stow away a €2.2m (£1.75m, $2.5m) fortune in cash, titles and gold bars.
Democracy and Class Struggle is aware of the selective use of the Mossack Fonseca leak and the forces behind the leak - nevertheless some of the material is useful to expose the kleptocracy.
The Panama Papers, leaked files analyzed by reporters from the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, revealed how the rich use tax havens to hide their wealth.
The Panama Papers, confidential files from the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca, the world’s fourth biggest offshore law firm, were leaked Sunday, revealing how influential people, including heads of governments such as Argentine President Mauricio Macri, have been exploiting tax havens.
The leaked documents identify at least 12 heads of state among 143 politicians from 50 countries,
their families and close associates who have been using offshore societies located in 21 tax havens. They include politicians as varied as Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, the family of Pakistan's prime minister, Iceland's prime minister and Vladimir Putin's inner circle.
Macri was director and vice president of Bahamas-based company Fleg Trading, created in 1998 and dissolved in 2009. The company was managed by Mossack Fonseca when he was a businessman and mayor of Argentina’s capital Buenos Aires. In asset declarations in 2007 and 2008, made when he was mayor of Buenos Aires, Macri did not disclose his connection to Fleg Trading. Nestor Grindetti, who was in charge of Buenos Aires' Ministry of Taxation in Macri's Cabinet, also appears in the confidential files. He also served the financial empire of Macri's father for more than 25 years.
The Macri administration put out a statement saying that the president was never a stakeholder in the ghost company, but that he did play an occasional role as CEO. The communique also confirmed that the ghost company was his father's, Franco Macri.
The document stated that Macri never claimed the company because he was never an active stakeholder.
However, the statement did not address the issue of the use of offshore tax havens.
While Argentine local papers wrongfully informed that the “family Kirchner” was also “involved” in the scandal, the family denied allegations in a communique released later in the evening, giving special criticism to the daily Perfil for defamation. “One more of the long list of the lies and insults meant to confuse and mislead citizens,” said the statement.
The name of Daniel Muñoz, former secretary of Nestor de Kirchner, appears in the confidential files, but no one from Kirchner's family.
The Panama Papers also implicate Peruvian presidential candidate, Keiko Fujimori whose big financial backers were clients of Mossack Fonseca with major offshore accounts. Alberto Fujimori, her father and former Peruvian president is serving a prison term for embezzlement and bribery.
Brazilian politician Eduardo Cunha, the president of the Chamber of Deputies, is also indirectly part of the scandal, as the list includes Idalecio de Castro Rodrigues de Oliveira, who according to the Brazilian attorney general, offered bribes to Cunha. As for Joao Jose Pereira de Lyra, also named in the files, he is Brazil's richest lawmaker with a fortune estimated at about US$140 million. He was recently accused by the Brazilian government of having employees work in conditions close to slavery in one of his sugar plantations.
In Mexico, the files involved businessman Juan Armando Hinojosa, nicknamed "President Enrique Peña Nieto's favorite contractor" for building his money empire mostly on public contracts with governmental agencies. He was also notoriously involved in the "White House scandal," when first lady and telenovela actress Angea Rivera bought a fancy US$7 million mansion at the end of 2014. Rivera claimed then that the money came partly from a US$4 million loan granted by one of Hijonosa's firms.
Panamanian state official Riccardo Francolini also appeared on the list. He was a close adviser of ex-President Ricardo Martinelli, who is himself currently probed over corruption charges. It also included Cesar Almeyda, advisor to former Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo.
The files uncovered offshore companies controlled by the prime ministers of Iceland and Pakistan, the king of Saudi Arabia and the children of the president of Azerbaijan.
The secret documents show that US$2 billion in transactions were secretly shuffled through banks and shadow companies by associates of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
They also provide the names of 33 people and companies blacklisted by the U.S. government because of evidence that they’ve conducted business with Mexican drug lords and nations such as North Korea.
“These findings show how deeply ingrained harmful practices and criminality are in the offshore world,” Gabriel Zucman, an economist at the University of California, Berkeley told the ICIJ.
The Washington-based International Consortium of Investigative Journalists along with reporters from several international media outlets, published the highly-sensitive secrets, after the firm had been subjected to an “unauthorized breach of its server.”
There were 11.5 million documents and 2.6 terabytes of information drawn from Mossack Fonseca’s internal database. The trove of documents is likely the biggest leak of inside information in history, according to the ICIJ.
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Ukraine’s president, Petro Poroshenko, set up a secret offshore company in the British Virgin Islands at a time when his troops were being wiped out in a bloody battle with rebels in Eastern Ukraine.
Leaked documents from the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca show that Poroshenko registered the company, Prime Asset Partners Ltd, on 21 August 2014. Records in Cyprus list him as the firm’s only shareholder. They give his official address in Ukraine’s capital, Kiev – apartment 39, Hrushevskoho Street.
From 15th March to April 1st Krantikarai Navjagaran Abhiyan launched a campaign commemorating the message of martyrs Shaheed Bhagat Singh,Sukhdev and Rajguru.Naujavan Bharat Sabha,Stree Mukti League and Disha Chatra Sanghatana meticulusly lit the torch of the martyrs in the regions of Allahabad ,Joenpur, Gorakhpur,Ambekarnagar,Gajipur, Mau and Varanasi.
They highlighted the fascistic policies of the present B.J.P.government which enslaved the toiling masses.
In their view such ruling class parties adopted the same rule and divide policies of the British colonial masters to divert the broad masses from the burning issues of the day.They explained the govt policies leading to barbaric retrenchment of workers,denial of minumum wages,proper housing, medical facilities etc.
They explained the historical connection between the pro-colonial politics of leaders like Gandhi and Nehru with the leaders of today.
Over 5000 pamphlets were distributed elaborating the unemployment present,the lack of educational facilities,inadequate housing and medical facilities ,insufficient educational facilities etc.
It explained how fashion ,consumerism ,communalism and casteism was promoted.The speakers explained the need for building progressive libraries and youth clubs or centres promoting anti-imperialist and democratic culture .
The most prominent speakers were comrades Prasen Spark, Amit, Jaju,Nishu and Anghad.
The speakers were divided explaining the communal-fascistic nature of ruling class parties,the need to form democratic institutions,and the cultural effect of Imperialism in India and the enslavement of women in India.The most effective campaign took place in Mau and in Ambedkar Nagar .
In Ambedkar Nagar a distance of 50 km was encompassed by the activists covering 7 areas.In Mau the people pursued the activists to stage another campaign .They most receptively grasped the message of the campaigners.
Although affected by the communal nationalism of the state the masses could gauge how the present rulers were trying to divided them from their basic problems.Earlier the same organizations had taken out a serious campaign exposing the fascistic arrest of Kanhaiya Kumar in J.N.U.and the factors causing Rohit Vemula's suicide.The activists displayed breathtaking stamina traversing so many regions illuminating the spirit of the martyrs.The question of fascism was dealt with ion the language of the masses ,particularity about the pretentious nature of nationalism.
The secular politics of Bhagat Singh,Sukhdev and Rajguru was portrayed in light of fascism and casteism.The example of how an Industrialist like Vijay Mallya could siphon of so much public money was illustrated.Cultural programmes were staged rendering the message of the martyrs.
I was present in the concluding phase in Varanasi and Allahabd.The leader of the campaign,Prasen Spark stressed on the formation of Nuajwan Bhrat Sabha units and to build class struggles of the broad masses.
Such a unit was already formed in Ambedkar nagar in Jusi village.
He stressed on politics in such organizations compatible with that of the political consciousness of the masses and not imposing Marxist-Leninist-Maoist politics,
To me such campaigns are the need of the hour when communal fascism of the Hindutva breed and casteism is strengthening it's tentacles.
I was impressed with the resolute determination of the activists blazing the spirit of revolution.Such a brigade is an inspiration to the whole country.Even the press regularly gave it coverage.The numbers were small but the quality of work impressive.Such activists are sowing the seeds for a democratic youth movement.combating ruling class and revisionist politics.
Earlier I was present in the state of Punjab observing the Shaheedi programmes highlighting the connection of agrarian revolutionary movement with the message of martyrs.I was greatly impressed with the cultural programmes there.
There was a remarkable programme by Lok Sangram Manch affiliiated to Revolutionary Democratic Front in Senewal village in Ferozepur which was often attacked by the state's forces since 15 years.About 600 people attended and the activists resolved to create an alternative to ruling class politics.
The policies of tyrants like Baba Randev and the ruling class portrayal of Shaheed Bhgat Singh was contrasted with secular,revolutionary politics.
This time heroically the Lok Sangram Manch supporters combated the criminal elements who threw water from cannons to sabotage and staged the rally there.
In Gotha village near Sangrur a relatively small l but quality programme was staged by the NBS of C.P.I(M.L.) New Democracy.
In Patiala a quality cultural programme was staged in the railway union area explaining the nexus between the state's policies and enslavement of the peasantry.
The cultural activists in the plays exhibited great skill in relating the burning issues of the day through drama.In other parts of India like Delhi and Haryana impressive programmes were staged.
In Delhi it was staged in working class areas which was significant.
Minister of Agriculture and Fishing Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson told RÚV just moments ago that Sigmundur has resigned as the Prime Minister. This move still needs the approval of the Independence Party, and the President, before being official.
Sigmundur will remain on as chairperson of the Progressive Party, and Sigurður Ingi will take his place as Prime Minister. Sigurður said that they want to continue their partnership with the Independence Party, and do not recommend early elections at this time.
However, Independence Party chairperson Bjarni Benediktsson is currently meeting the President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson to discuss the current situation.
Sigurður has publicly defended the Prime Minister since the Panama Papers story broke, going so far as to defend the use of offshore accounts by saying, “It is complicated to have money in Iceland.”
Democracy and Class Struggle days we should emulate Iceland by imprisoning Banksters and firing corrupt Prime Ministers - Iceland shows us the way
Tata Steel and Salwa Judum Only days after the Chhattisgarh government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Tata Steel, a vigilante militia was established (known as the Salwa Judum). Organised by the state government and funded by Tata Steel the Salwa Judum initiated a ground clearance operation to eradicate the local forest peoples so Tata could set up its steel plant. The Salwa Judum burned, raped and murdered its way through 600 local villages forcing 50 000 people into police camps and displacing a further 350 000. To keep these displaced persons in check, the government then deployed 200 000 paramilitary troops to the region to make sure that it remained a stable climate for investment and economic growth. SEE: http://democracyandclasstruggle.blogspot.co.uk/2010/03/chhattisgarh-adivasis-defend-land-from.html http://www.bannedthought.net/India/CPI-Maoist-Docs/Misc/SalwaJudum-pamphlet.pdf To find our more about how to STOP THE WAR ON THE PEOPLE OF INDIA VISIT ; https://www.facebook.com/Stop-Indias-War-on-the-People-167572753339209/?fref=ts
The Supreme Court on Monday granted bail to former Delhi University professor GN Saibaba, who was arrested in May 2015 for alleged links with the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) outfit, reported India Today.
He has been in jail since a single-judge bench of the Bombay High Court in Nagpur canceled his bail in December last year.
He was initially granted bail in July 2015. The wheelchair-bound professor is more than 90% disabled. He has been paralysed from waist-downwards since contracting polio in childhood.
Saibaba had told Scroll that his muscles had been damaged while he was being taken to Nagpur from Delhi by the Maharashtra police.
While in jail, the inadequate toilet and sleeping facilities caused damage to his left arm ligaments, nerves and his spinal cord.
Since obtaining bail in July, the English professor has been undergoing treatment every week at the Indian Spinal Injuries Centre in New Delhi. He had an angioplasty in August.
Democracy and Class Struggle wish G N Saibaba a speedy recovery and revolutionary love from comrades on all continents - you are an inspiration to us all.
The mobilization of March 31 was a success with more than one million demonstrators, at least double the 9th of March. Faced with this mobilization of this scale across France, the response was repression.
A repression that is expressed through more than a hundred arrests, the beatings, tear gas gas either in Paris, Toulouse, Marseille, Lyon, Nantes, Rennes, Toulouse, Grenoble and other cities yet!
Nevertheless the batons will not stop.
Today you have to go up a gear to demand the withdrawal of the law.
That means it must be intensified blockades, occupations and strikes!
