Eurozone states must go back to national currencies: analyst

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/226277.html

European states “dump the euro system” and go back to sovereign national currency to resolve the financial crisis that has for months engulfed the eurozone, a prominent analyst tells Press TV.

“The only way out is to, for these countries to dump the euro, go back to their national currency as they had before and then adopt a two-tier credit system of productive credit for real production and a Glass Steagall standard as it was in the United States,” Edward Spannaus, editor of the Executive Intelligence Review said in an exclusive interview with Press TV on Saturday.

His remarks coincide with violent clashes and demonstrations in Greece where thousands of people have taken to the streets of Athens to protest against further austerity measures in return for a new EU bailout package for the debt-stricken country.

Hundreds of thousands of people in Portugal have also staged demonstrations in the capital city of Lisbon against the government's economic policies.

Commenting on daily protests against deep spending cuts and austerity measures across Europe, Spannaus reiterated that the “people will be destroyed” if their governments accept austerity measures.

“The bailouts are not for the countries. They are not for the people. They are for the banks, so if they continue on this course these countries and their population will be destroyed,” he added.

This is while the EU and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) say adopting austerity measures is essential to save eurozone countries from a debt default.

In order to qualify for the new bailout, eurozone finance ministers say Greece must pass the new package in parliament, and impose additional spending cuts of 325 million euros this year.

Austerity cuts have been the cause of several anti-government demonstrations in Greece since early 2011. Many of the rallies have at times turned violent, leaving scores of protesters injured.

The Greek public debt currently stands at around EUR 350 billion, more than 160 percent of its gross domestic product.

Despite the austerity cuts and the bailout funds, which have been aimed at stimulating growth for the troubled economy of Greece, the country has been in recession since 2009.