D. Koutsoumbas: “We do not choose a camp between thieves, we choose the camp of the peoples”

On Friday 1 April 2022, thousands of people participated in the rally of the Party Organization of Attica of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) at Athens' Syntagma Square, where the General Secretary of the CC of the Party Dimitris Koutsoumbas delivered a speech. 

The demonstrators united their voices under the slogan “No to the imperialist war in Ukraine”. They demanded that our country's involvement should stop. They shouted that they will not accept that the people pay the price of the war, that they face high prices that erode the income of the working class and greater energy poverty.

Massive anti-war rally of the KKE in Athens

KKE rally in Syntagma Square, Friday 1 April 2022.

Thousands of protesters in Athens responded to the call of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and participated in a large anti-imperialist, anti-war rally held at Syntagma Square, in front of the Parliament. 

Waving red flags and shouting anti-imperialist slogans, the demonstrators raised their voice against the imperialist war in Ukraine and expressed their firm opposition to Greece's involvement in the dangerous US-NATO-EU plans. 

D. Koutsoumbas: "The people of Ukraine have become a punching bag among ruthless imperialists"

On 14 March, Dimitris Koutsoumbas, GS of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), delivered a speech at a political rally in Corinth, noting, among other things: “More than 10 years have passed and the Greek people are still paying for the successive capitalist crises with impoverishment, three memoranda, and hundreds of anti-popular and anti-labour laws. They also pay for the recovery by constantly making new sacrifices to shield the profitability of a few business groups.

Now they are being told that they must pay the price of Greece’s participation in imperialist war. To pay ‘the price of participation in the war for freedom’, as the Prime Minister, K. Mitsotakis, said.

KKE leader Koutsoumbas blasts PM Mitsotakis on Greece's involvement in Ukraine war

The government of the right-wing ND party with the support of the other bourgeois parties of the social-democratic “left” SYRIZA and the also social-democratic KINAL/PASOK proceeds with the deeper involvement of Greece in the ongoing imperialist war in Ukraine, always on the side of the USA–NATO–EU. This was apparent in the discussion between the leaders of the political parties in the Plenary Session of the Parliament on 1 March 2022.

In his speech, Dimitris Koutsoumbas, GS of the CC of the KKE, stressed, among other things, the following:

Dimitris Koutsoumbas: No to imperialist war! Greece’s involvement must stop immediately!

On 27/2/22, the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) organized an event in the city of Lamia in honour of the 80 years of the Greek People’s Liberation Army (ELAS), which was the military wing of the National Liberation Front (EAM). Both EAM and ELAS were founded following a decision of the KKE and fought against the fascist triple foreign occupation (German, Italian, and Bulgarian) of Greece during the imperialist Second World War.

The event took place in Lamia, the native city of Aris Velouchiotis, leader of ELAS and cadre of the KKE.

KKE votes against the new large armament programme, calls for Greece's disengagement from NATO-EU

On 15/2/22, the Plenary Session of the Greek Parliament approved the bill submitted by the Ministry of National Defence regarding the purchase of three French “Belharra” frigates and six “Rafale” jets (in addition to the already acquired eighteen ones). Right-wing ND, social-democratic KINAL/PASOK, and right-wing Elliniki Lysi (Greek Solution) voted in favour of the bill while social-democratic SYRIZA voted “present”.

This is another large armament programme integrated into the criminal USA–NATO–EU plans in which the local bourgeoisie is actively participating to enhance its role and business in the wider area while ND, SYRIZA, and the other bourgeois parties, despite their remarks on specific points, support its interests.

Dimitris Koutsoumbas: "Capitalist growth, by definition, is anti-popular in any management formula"

Capitalist growth, by definition, is anti-popular in any management formula, stressed Dimitris Koutsoumbas, the GS of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), speaking in Parliament on 02/02/22, noting that ND and SYRIZA with their “development” laws compete over how they will distribute billions of euros to the few by crushing the people.

Speaking about the new “development” law, he highlighted that the mockery must end and that the tale of capitalist development is the same old story that does not convince anyone. He added that growth is here, but wages —average and minimum— remain stagnant because capitalist growth is based on the intensification of the exploitation of workers.

"The KKE is at the forefront of the anti-war, anti-imperialist movement and the workers–people’s movement"

The following text is the introductory speech delivered by the General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Dimitris Koutsoumbas at the Extraordinary Teleconference of the International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties (IMCWP), under the subject: 

 

"The international economic, political, and military developments. The experience from the struggle of the Communist and Workers' Parties and the peoples. Solidarity with Cuba, the Palestinian people, and all the peoples struggling against sanctions, machinations, and imperialist aggression". 

KKE and French communists honored the 150th anniversary of the Paris Commune

Photo: 902.gr

“We are here in Paris to culminate the rich program of tributes, events, publications and other activities through which our Party honors the heroic Paris Commune, 150 years since the first “storming of dream” by the working class. We are here, we walked in the footsteps of the Commune and drawing strength and knowledge from its teachings, we continue the beautiful but difficult struggle. So that dreams will be vindicated”, said Dimitris Koutsoumbas, General Secretary of the CC of the KKE, during a speech in Paris, France.

KKE leader Koutsoumbas pays tribute to the Paris Commune

Photo: 902.gr

On his 2nd day of visit in Paris, the General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Dimitris Koutsoumbas participated in a guided walk “on the footsteps of the Commune”. The walk began from Louise Michel square and continued in Montmartre.

Later on, the General Secretary and a delegation of the KKE visited the “Communards' Wall” at Père Lachaise cemetery where Koutsoumbas laid a wreath in honor of the 147 fallen combatants of the 1871 Paris Commune. Flowers were also deposed to the graves of the General Secretary of the French Communist Party from 1930 to 1964 Maurice Thorez, communist poet Paul Éluard and communard chansonnier Jean-Baptiste Clement. 

Dimitris Koutsoumbas — The struggle against “green” and “digital” capitalist barbarism

On Sunday 28 November, the European Communist Initiative held a teleconference titled "The communists at the forefront of the workers’–people’s struggle against “green” and “digital” capitalist barbarism, for the contemporary popular needs, for the real way out, socialism". 

Below you can read the introductory speech delivered by the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Dimitris Koutsoumbas:

Visite du Secrétaire général du KKE Koutsoumbas à Paris

Dimitris Koutsoumbas, the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), will visit Paris on December 2-4, 2021. 

According to "Rizospastis" Koutsoumbas will pay a visit to Louvre museum on Thursday 2 December, while on Friday he will participate in a guided walk "on the footsteps of the Commune". On the same day he will lay a wreath at the Communards' Wall at the Père Lachaise cemetery where, on May 28, 1871, one-hundred and forty-seven fédérés, combatants of the Paris Commune, were shot and thrown in an open trench at the foot of the wall.

Vietnam's Vice President visits KKE headquarters in Athens

Dimitris Koutsoumbas, the General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), met on Monday with the Vice President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and member of the CC of the Communist Party of Vietnam Vo Thi Anh Xuan. The meeting took place at the headquarters of the KKE in Perissos, Athens.

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan is on a visit to Greece, as the head of a multi-member delegation consisting by the president of the Women's Union, the deputy ministers of Foreign Affairs, Labour and Social Affairs, Planning and Investments, Industry and Trade, as well as other governmental officials. From the side of the KKE the meeting was also attended by Giorgos Marinos, Politburo member, MEP Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos and Christina Skaloumpaka, president of the Greek Women's Federation. The Ambassador of Vietnam in Greece Le Hong Truong also participated in the meeting. 

Museum in honor of communist guerrillas unveiled in Greece

“The KKE is the power of the people today, because it doesn't enter the fold of the false 'national arrangements', it does not obey the hostile for the people bourgeois plans”, pointed out Dimitris Koutsoumbas, General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), during his speech in the northern Greek town of Nestorio on Sunday morning.

The speech was given on the occasion of the inauguration of a Museum-Memorial for  the communist guerrilla fighters of EAM-ELAS and the Democratic Army (DSE), who fought against the Axis occupation and during the Greek Civil War respectively. The Museum was a donation by Harisis Tsoutounis who provided a space “in memory of his militant parents”, as well as to “honor the struggle of EAM-ELAS and DSE, to which the people of the area contributed significantly”.

Dimitris Koutsoumbas at KNE-Odigitis festival: "The KKE is here, for the society of true freedom, for socialism!"

The third and last day of the 47th KNE-Odigitis festival in Athens, on Saturday 25th September, was concluded with a massive political event with speakers being Nikos Abatielos, Secretary of the Central Council of KNE and Dimitris Koutsoumbas, General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE). 

 

This year's festival was marked by a record attendance, with thousands of people, workers, young men and women, from every part of the Greek capital participating in the major events.

Greece: Thousands joined PAME rally, sent powerful message to Mitsotakis' government

Thousands of workers, self-employed people, farmers, pensioners, young men and women participated on Saturday evening in a massive rally organized by the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) and Trade Unions on the occasion of the inauguration of the 85th Thessaloniki International Fair by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Under the slogan “Only the people can save the people. The justified indignation must become a force of organization and struggle”, numerous protesters from Thessaloniki and the broader region of Central Macedonia sent a militant message to the ND government and the employers. 

Mikis Theodorakis: I want to leave this world as a communist

Mikis Theodorakis, anticipating the end of his life, had contacted by telephone the Secretary General of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Greece, Dimitris Koutsoumbas, giving him the stigma of his last wishes.

In his personal letter on October 5, 2020, to Dimitris Koutsoumbas, he wrote: "Now at the end of my life, at the time of reckoning, the details fade from my mind and remain the big picture. So I see that my most critical, strong and mature years were spent under the banner of the KKE. That is why I want to leave this world as a communist."

Greece fires: Remarks by the KKE General Secretary Dimitris Koutsoumbas

Extensive fires have raged in many parts of Greece, including in the outskirts of Athens, the island of Evia (Euboea) and Peloponnese with thousands of people fleeing as protracted heat wave turned forests into tinderboxes and flames threatened populated areas, electricity installations and historic sites. 

In a statement, the General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Dimitris Koutsoumbas said:

“The members and the friends of the KKE, its deputies and those elected to regional and municipal councils are in battle positions against the wildfires, by the side of the people who are being tested once again.

Large political rally by Greek and Turkish communists held in Lesvos: Socialism is the future!

Under the slogan “In Greece and Turkey, the enemy is the same: NATO – governments – capitalism! Socialism is the future!”, hundreds of communists from the two countries participated in a large rally held on Saturday 10 July in Mytilene, Lesbos, 

 

The rally was organized within the framework of the 30th Anti-imperialist camp of the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE). 

"The real enemy isn't the neighboring countries, but capitalism, its monopolies and their imperialist alliances", underlined Dimitris Koutsoumbas, the General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), during his greeting speech at Sappho Square in Mytilene. 

Greek and Turkish young communists to meet in Lesvos

Dimitris Koutsoumbas (KKE) and Kemal Okuyan (TKP)

Greek and Turkish young communists, members and friends of the KKE and the TKP, are going to meet on July 9-11 in the island of Lesvos (Lesbos), at the 30th Anti-imperialist Camp of the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE).

KNE organizes this year's Anti-imperialist camp in Mytilene, Lesvos, under the slogan: “In Greece and Turkey, the enemy is the same: NATO – governments – capitalism! Socialism is the future!”.

The two-day events will conclude with a large political rally on Saturday 10 July, at 8 pm, at Sappho's Square in Mytilene. A speech will be delivered by Nikos Abatielos, Secretary of the Central Council of KNE.