In recent years, various European countries have implemented laws that prohibit the public display of communist symbols, as well as the existence of communist parties, in the context of a reactionary wave of anti-communism.
Interestingly, at a time when socialism has long since disappeared from the European continent, the authorities are legislating with the aim of criminalizing an ideology that has historically been linked to significant social achievements for workers, especially during the early stage of the Soviet Union.
European countries with a ban on communist symbols
Several European countries, mainly those that were part of the Eastern Bloc during the Cold War, have adopted legislation prohibiting the public display of communist symbols, such as the hammer and sickle, arguing that they represent 'totalitarian ideologies responsible for massive human rights violations.' Below are the most relevant cases:
Ukraine: In 2015, the Verkhovna Rada passed a law that prohibits communist propaganda, including the public display of its symbols, except in educational or artistic contexts. This legislation also penalizes the public denial of the 'totalitarian character' of this system.
Poland: Poland punishes the glorification of communist ideology with up to two years in prison, including the public display of communist symbols, except in cases of artistic, scientific, or educational use.
Lithuania and Latvia: Both countries have implemented laws that prohibit the display of communist symbols. In Latvia, this restriction was extended after the independence of the Soviet Union, while Lithuania has reinforced these measures as part of its decommunization policy.
Hungary: Since 2013, Hungary has banned the public use of communist symbols, such as the red star, in an effort to eradicate any remnants of its past under the Soviet bloc.
Moldova: In 2012, Moldova passed a law that prohibited communist symbols, although the Constitutional Court later declared it unconstitutional. However, restrictions on the promotion of communist ideology persist.
Estonia: Although there is no explicit ban on communist symbols, local laws restrict the propaganda of 'totalitarian ideologies,' which in practice includes communist symbols.
Georgia: Similar to other post-Soviet countries, Georgia has restricted the use of communist symbolism in public spaces as part of its decommunization process.
In other countries, such as Croatia, debates have been proposed to ban communist symbols, like the red star associated with the Yugoslav People's Army, although a total ban has not been consolidated. In Albania, restrictions on materials from the communist era have been proposed, but these initiatives have faced public opposition.
Countries with a ban on communist parties
The prohibition of communist parties is less common than that of symbolism, but some European countries have taken measures to outlaw these organizations, arguing that they pose a threat to democracy.
The most notable cases are:
Ukraine: In 2015, in addition to banning communist symbols, Ukraine outlawed all communist parties, accusing them of promoting totalitarian ideologies.
Lithuania and Latvia: In both countries, communist parties are banned under laws that consider them criminal organizations or contrary to the constitutional order.
Slovakia: In 2020, Slovakia passed legislation declaring communist parties as criminal organizations, prohibiting their activities and the public use of their symbols.
Estonia: Although it is not explicitly mentioned in the legislation, communist parties face severe restrictions that effectively illegalize them.
Georgia: Communist parties are not explicitly banned, but legal restrictions on communist propaganda limit their ability to operate.
On the contrary, in countries like the Czech Republic, Poland, and Slovakia, communist parties are legal and participate in elections, although with restrictions in some cases. For example, in Poland, the Communist Party exists, but it faces legal limitations. In Germany, there is no general prohibition of communism, and parties like the Deutsche Kommunistische Partei and the Marxistisch-Leninistische Partei Deutschlands operate legally, although under state surveillance.
Anticommunism in Europe
Europe is going through a reactionary wave of anti-communism that seeks to criminalize this ideology, equating it with Nazism and disregarding its historical role in the defense of workers' rights. Resolution 1481/2006 of the Council of Europe, adopted in 2006, condemned the crimes of totalitarian communist regimes, equating them with those of Nazism and promoting a narrative that justifies current prohibitions. In 2019, the European Parliament reinforced this stance with the Resolution on the importance of historical memory, urging member states to prohibit the dissemination of totalitarian ideologies, including communism.
This criminalization ignores the social achievements accomplished in the Soviet Union, such as universal education, public healthcare, the right to work, and gender equality, which inspired labor movements throughout Europe.
European communist parties played a crucial role in the resistance against fascist dictatorships and in the promotion of labor rights, such as the eight-hour workday, social security, and pensions. However, these contributions are minimized or ignored in favor of an anti-communist narrative that associates communism exclusively with repression.
The fear of the capitalist elites
The main fear of the capitalist elites is that the communist ideology will resurge with strength, as it represents a direct threat to the privileges of the bourgeoisie. Communism, by advocating for the abolition of private property of the means of production and the elimination of social classes, challenges the capitalist system that perpetuates economic inequality.
This anti-communist reaction, supported by conservative think tanks and media outlets, seeks to delegitimize any criticism of capitalism, presenting communism as an inherently totalitarian ideology. However, this narrative hides the fact that capitalism exploits workers, generates extreme inequalities, and causes recurring economic crises. The prohibition of communist symbols and parties not only limits freedom of expression but also reinforces the ideological control of capitalist elites, demonstrating that in Europe not everyone can freely defend their ideas, especially if they challenge the status quo.
The prohibition of communist symbolism and communist parties in countries like Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Hungary, Moldova, Estonia, and Slovakia reflects a reactionary wave that criminalizes an ideology historically linked to the social achievements of workers. This trend, backed by resolutions from the Council of Europe and the European Parliament, responds to the fear of capitalist elites regarding a possible resurgence of communism, which would threaten the privileges of the bourgeoisie. Far from being a space of absolute freedom for all ideas, Europe shows a clear intolerance towards those ideologies that challenge the capitalist order, which calls into question the official discourse on freedom of expression and ideological pluralism.