45% of the political decisions taken by the US Government benefit the economic elites of that country, while those opposed to oligarchy represent only 18%. That is what they have denounced in a recent research conducted by two important American academics. They say that “elites and economic interest groups have a fundamental influence on the policies of the United States Government, while middle-class citizens and mass interest groups, such as trade unions, have a much smaller or negligible impact.” The bottom line is that American democracy is in the hands of the economic elites.

What is said about the United States can also be used more strongly in Europe and in the Spanish and French states, and also in the Basque Country. Lobbies and the economic elites mark the policies of governments. We can see the example of the Basque Autonomous Community. ELA has denounced last week to the Basque Government for its support for the practices of the Confesbask employers in the agricultural sector. Employers are promoting “statehood”, that is, they are implementing state agreements in the CAV, further impoverishing working conditions. It is thus intended to eliminate collective bargaining at the level of the Basque Country and the Basque framework of labour relations. And the Basque Government supports this practice, according to the Abertzale syndicate.

Another recent example: Panama papers. These tax havens exist because the economic elites condition governments. Governments can prevent and eliminate fraud, but they don't want it because the elites don't let them.

These are just two examples that we are in the hands of the economic elites. Ours is a false democracy in the hands of those who have not been elected at the ballot box.