Aspects of the ideological–political struggle in the ranks of the international communist movement

Article by the International Relations Section of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) about the recent international teleconference of the CPs:

Recently, in conditions of an ongoing 5th wave of the pandemic, an Extraordinary Teleconference of the International Meeting of Communist and Workers’ Parties was held under the responsibility of the CP of Greece (KKE) and the CP of Turkey (TKP). The developments confirm that bourgeois governments were not able to tackle the coronavirus pandemic to the benefit of the workers. Moreover, the restrictions on travelling from one country to another hindered in-person meetings. This negative development is rooted in the enormous deficiencies in the public healthcare systems as a result of the anti-popular policy followed by governments serving the capital. 

KKE on the dangerous tension between USA-NATO and Russia

Following the dangerous escalation in the relations between the Euro-Atlantic forces and Russia on the issue of Ukraine and Eastern Europe, the Press Office of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) issued a statement calling for Greece's disengagement from the dangerous US-NATO military plans. 

The full statement (here in Greek) reads:

The ineffective meeting of the US and Russian Foreign Ministers in Geneva, their inability to reach and agreement even on the subject of the talks, has been accompanied in the last 24 hours by tension in aggressive rhetoric and military moves by the US, NATO, EU and capitalist Russia. The confrontation in Ukraine, which in recent years has been consistently at the center of intra-imperialist competitions, is once again rekindling.

KKE: Statement on government's celebrations for Rafale jets

The first six of 24 Rafale fighter aircraft acquired by the Hellenic Air Force from France arrived in Greece on Wednesday, landing at the Tanagra air base where the government organized a celebration attended by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

They took off from Istres in France and landed in Tanagra, where they joined the 332nd Squadron, after first flying over central Athens, escorted by two Mirage 2000-5 aircraft.

KKE and KNE expressed their solidarity with the people of Kazakhstan

On Wednesday morning, 19 January 2022, delegations of the KKE and KNE held a protest at the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Athens, expressing their solidarity with the fighting people of the Central Asian country, which was recently shaken by mass demonstrations.

“We denounce the bloody repression, the death toll, and the arrest of thousands of demonstrators”, stressed Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos, MEP of the KKE. 

Kazakhstan Protests: Interview with Eliseos Vagenas, head of the International Relations Section of the CC of the KKE

The news portal 902.gr has published an interview with Eliseos Vagenas,  member of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and Head of the International Relations Section of the CC of the KKE, concerning the developments in Kazakhstan:

— The recent mass mobilizations in Kazakhstan have led to violent conflicts and the intervention of military forces to suppress them. President Tokayev spoke of foreign intervention, of 20,000 foreign militants, which was followed by the military intervention of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) countries. The question arises: Were these mobilizations based on internal developments or was it truly a foreign intervention as in the case of Ukraine a few years ago?

The "petty leftists" and Kazakhstan

The following article (here in Greek) was published in today's "Rizospastis", the organ of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and consists a very accurate comment for all those who rushed to condemn the popular mobilizations in Kazakhstan and side themselves with the bourgeois Kazakh government and its Russian allies:

The "petty leftists" and Kazakhstan

Recently, on the occasion of the events in Kazakhstan, some “petty leftists”, who in their effort to pave the way for a SYRIZA government a few years ago had been distinguished for their anti-KKE passion, “struck again”. 

KKE in solidarity with workers' protests in Kazakhstan

Thirty years after the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the restoration of capitalism, Kazakhstan is in the midst of a large-scale uprising by thousands of people across the country. 

In Almaty police fired stun grenades and tear gas at a crowd of several thousand protesters, but were unable to stop them from storming the mayor's office, AFP reported. 

In a statement published in 902 portal, the International Relations Section of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) expresses its solidarity with the workers' mobilizations in Kazakhstan, demanding the release of all political prisoners and the legalization of the Socialist Movement and the Communist Party of Kazakhstan. 

Farewell to Greek militant communist Maria Sideri

Maria Sideri, an emblematic figure of the Greek communist movement, passed away at the age of 98. “With pride and respect we pay farewell to our comrade, Maria Demseri-Sideri who passed away full of days, having closed a long and full cycle or life, uninterrupted action and relentless struggles", underlines a statement issued by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE).

Maria Sideri was born in Kozani, northern Greece, in 1923. In 1943 she joined resistance youth organization EPON and took active part in all its activities against the Nazi occupation. Later she joined the KKE.

KKE: Solidarity with the people of Sudan

In a statement about the recent developments in Sudan the International Relations Section of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) points out:

"The KKE denounces the junta in Sudan that was imposed on 25/10/2021 and cost the lives of a total of 53 citizens. The Sudanese junta authorities continue the criminal practice against the people’s demonstrations by brutally repressing them. 

The stance of the KKE in the face of the 1990-91 overthrows in the USSR

Interview with Aleka Papariga, member of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), former General Secretary of the Party from 1991 to 2013, in "Rizospastis" concerning the stance of the KKE during the 1990-91 counterrevolutionary overthrows in the Soviet Union. 

The interview (here in Greek) was originally published in "Rizospastis" weekend edition (18-19 December 2021). English translation by Nikos Mottas.

— The bourgeois parties celebrated when the red flag was lowered from the Kremlin. What were their main declarations at that time?

EU Parliament: KKE denounces new anti-Cuban resolution

Another despicable resolution against Cuba was adopted by the European Parliament on December 16th. The text titled “The situation in Cuba” comes as a continuation of the hideous and unacceptable resolution that had been adopted in Strasbourg on September 16, 2021.

Using once again the fake allegations about the so-called “human rights abuses” in Cuba, the new resolution refers to a number of paid U.S. agents – closely related to U.S. governmental and non-governmental anti-Cuban institutions - who are presented as supposed “dissidents” and “freedom fighters”. 

KKE and TKP: Joint press release about the Extraordinary Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties

The teleconference of the extraordinary International Meeting of Communist and Workers’ Parties (IMCWP) took place on 10–11 December 2021, under the theme “The international economic, political, and military developments. The experience from the struggle of Communist and Workers’ Parties and the peoples. Solidarity with Cuba, the Palestinian people, and all the peoples struggling against sanctions, machinations, and imperialist aggression”. 

30th anniversary of the dissolution of the USSR: "Socialism remains the future and the only way out for the people"

“Socialism remains the future and the only actual way out for the people” underlined Kostas Papadakis, MEP of the Communist Party of Greece (ΚΚΕ) during his intervention at the debate on the “30th anniversary of the dissolution of the Soviet Union” held in the Plenary Session of the European Parliament.

In his intervention (here in Greek), the KKE MEP said:

"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". 

Greece: KKE slams Mitsotakis government's criminal handing of the pandemic

The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) has sharply criticised the policy of New Democracy government over Covid-19 pandemic, including the low vaccination rate and the dramatic situation in the public Health System.

In a comment issued on Thursday, the Press Bureau of the CC of the KKE points out:

“Instead of pointing their finger, the government and the Minister of Health should answer the critical questions:  

EAM: Notes on Greece's National Liberation Front

 By Nikos Mottas.

The 27th of September marked the 80th anniversary of the foundation of EAM, Greece's National Liberation Front, which played the leading role in the struggle against the country's Axis occupation. The major force behind the foundation, organization and activity of EAM was the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) which led the popular, anti-fascist struggle during the 1941-1944 period. 

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. 

Greek-American resistance fighter Kostas Lekkas dies

Comrade Lekkas in his 100th birthday.

Kostas Lekkas, also known as Constantine "Gus" Lekas, a fighter of the Greek Resistance during World War II and a long-time member of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), died in New York aged 102.

Comrade Lekkas was born on 7 July 1919 in Elizabeth, New Jersey. At the age of one, alongside his mother and siblings, he moved to Greece, settling at a village in Peloponnese. His father stayed in New York in order to work for a period of time but he was later killed in a car accident.

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.