© Rafael Marchante / Reuters



The moderate Socialists worked with the Communist Party and radical Left Bloc to form a majority that voted down fresh austerity proposals today.Following the October 4th general election, the anti-austerity leftist majority was explicitly prevented from forming a government by the president, citing 'the national interest'.Sweeping cuts and increased taxes led to large street protests and strikes. Unemployment peaked at 17.7% in 2013. Anti-austerity supporters are already celebrating the fall of the right-wing administration.The attempt to sideline anti-austerity politics sent shock waves through Europe, but was largely ignored in Brussels, where protecting shaky austerity plans from democratic upheaval seemed paramount.While the socialist party has argued it will respect the policies of the Eurozone, the PS will now be working with two parties that want to repeal pro-market reforms. In fact, the communist party has openly campaigned to leave the Euro.