Spanish Elections 2023: PCTE communists emerge strengthened under negative political conditions

The results of July 23rd elections in Spain did not pronounce a clear victory for the ruling social democratic PSOE or the opposition right parties, with no side gaining the parliamentary majority needed to form a government. The turnout in the elections to determine the 350-seat parliament was 70%, with 37.5 registered million voters.

The right-wing People's Party (PP) won the elections with 136 seats, increasing the number by 47 compared to December 2019 elections. The social democratic Socialist Workers Party (PSOE), headed by PM Pedro Sanchez, won 122 seats.

 

Spain: Statement of the PCTE on the July 23rd General Elections — "El poder tiene sus partidos, tú tienes al PCTE"

Statement of the PCTE on the July 23^rd General Elections

 Retake the Tools

The Power Has its Parties, You Have the PCTE

All the parliamentary parties have set their propaganda machinery in motion because the General Elections have been moved forward. They are aiming to be part of a new government that can have only two possible colors — the two-party system has definitely returned.

Crimes of Francoism, a history of bloody impunity

By Álvaro Luque.

We have all heard stories of Francoism that continue to shrink our hearts. You left the house, they arrested you and little by little, humiliation by humiliation, they stripped you of all human dignity where you became a simple punching bag. You became a rag doll where the Brigada Político-Social in the 70s, and the Civil Guard and the Army in the post-war period, were practicing all kinds of humiliations and tortures to extract any confession. 

Spain: PCTE communists ready to fight another battle after positive results in local elections

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called for early general elections on July 23 after his social democratic party, PSOE, and its major ally, Unidas Podemos, suffered heavy losses across the country in regional and municipal elections. 

 

On the other hand, the conservative opposition (Partido Popular) and the far-right (Vox party) posted powerful gains in polls. In total, Partido Popular gained more than 7 million votes (31.53%), which is almost 2 million more voters in relation to 2019 elections, while PSOE social democrats received 6.3 million votes (28.1%). A disturbing feature is the rise of the far-right Vox, which received 1.6 million votes, related to 812 thousand in 2019. 

Spanish communists denounce PSOE-Unidas Podemos government for sending weapons to Ukraine

Statement by the Communist Party of the Workers of Spain (PCTE): 

On the Confirmation of the Delivery of Heavy Weaponry to Ukraine by the Spanish Government

After the authorization by the German Government to deliver Leopard armored car models to the Ukrainian Army, the Spanish Government has immediately announced that our country will collaborate in the delivery of some dozens of its own A4. 

Communist Party of the Workers of Spain: Assessment of the three years of PSOE-UP coalition government

Statement of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Workers of Spain (PCTE): Adopted by the 6^th Plenary Session of the Central Committee

January 14^th, 2023

Assessment on the Three Years of the Government of Social Democratic Coalition

On December 30^th, 2019 Pedro Sánchez and Pablo Iglesias signed the “progressive coalition” agreement that led, in January 2020, to the inauguration of the first Spanish Government of coalition after the Transition with Pedro Sánchez as Prime Minister.

Ástor García: "To deny the imperialist nature of Russia today is to deny reality"

The following speech was delivered by Ástor García, General Secretary of Communist party of the Workers of Spain (PCTE) at the quadripartite meeting held on 8th of July 2022 in Athens:

Comrades,

We are holding this important meeting in an especially difficult moment for class struggle. The imperialist war being waged in Ukraine is the key element that determines all the other issues and, from our viewpoint, it is a turning point in the international scene with important outcomes in the domestic spheres of our countries.

Workers, Peace Activists, Students denounce the 2022 NATO Summit

Under the slogan "Yes to Peace-No to NATO! Disengage from NATO and dissolve it!", the World Peace Council (WPC) denounces the NATO Summit which takes place in Madrid on 29-30 June. It is noted that the WPC participated in the large anti-NATO rally held in Spanish capital on June 26th. 

More specifically, the WPC stresses out:

The biggest war machine in history, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) is having its Summit on 29-30 June in Madrid, Spain. One more summit where the war hawks of 30 countries and their governments will ratify and develop their imperialist plans as a ’’world sheriff’’.

PCTE: Sánchez government responsible for the Melilla massacre (English, Español)

In a statement about the recent massacre of migrants in Melilla, the Press Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Workers of Spain (PCTE) stresses out:

Last Friday, 45 immigrants deceased and several more people were injured while trying to enter Melilla. The PCTE makes the Government of social democratic coalition responsible for this serious incident.

This has been the first attempt of mass entry in Melilla since the Spanish Government has changed its policy on Western Sahara in March, thus giving in to blackmail by Morocco.  

KKE MEP: The Melilla massacre is an example of EU's criminal policy

The EU Parliament Group of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) strongly condemned the criminal policy of the EU and its governments that resulted in the recent tragic massacre of migrants in Melilla. 

 

During a debate in the Committee on Political Liberties (LIBE), in the presence of EU Commissioner Ylva Johannson, KKE MEP Kostas Papadakis made the following intervention:

Massacre in Melilla: A Barbaric Crime of Europe’s “Progressive” Imperialism

The images of barbarism and inhumanity in Melilla, on the Spanish-Moroccan border, are a modern crime of the so-called “progressive” imperialism of Europe.

The same forces that for centuries plundered the wealth of African countries and exploited its peoples as slaves, today kill hundreds of uprooted people in live transmission in cold blood.

The EU and the governments that cut the wages of Europe’s workers, impose barbaric anti-peoples’ policies, persecute those who resist and attack democratic and trade union rights within their own countries, also try to target the poor and oppressed of other countries, and cultivate racism to hide their brutal anti-workers’ policies.

OTAN no, bases fuera! Large, militant anti-NATO rally held in Madrid (VIDEO)

“No to NATO! No to the imperialist war” was the major slogan of the large anti-NATO rally held on Sunday 26th June in Madrid, a few days before the NATO Summit that will take place in the Spanish capital on 29-30 June.

The demonstration began with a gathering at Atocha station and later the protesters marched through central streets towards Plaza de Espana.

Members and supporters of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and the Communist Party of the Workers of Spain (PCTE) participated in a militant joint bloc, shouting slogans in both Greek and Spanish, such as “OTAN no, Bases FUERA”, “In Greece and Spain the people demand NATO and bases to go away”, “Viva KKE! Viva PCTE!”, etc. The protesters also expressed their solidarity to the detained young communists, Mikhail and Aleksander Kononovich, who remain imprisoned in Ukraine. 

PCTE: Spanish government suspends basic rights and freedoms for the NATO Summit

Madrid has become a “fortress city” for the needs of the NATO Summit which will take place between 28-30 June. In a statement the Press Office of the Communist Party of the Workers of Spain (PCTE) denounces the social democratic government of Pedro Sánchez for suspending “basic rights and freedoms in order to shield Madrid before and during the NATO Summit”.

It is reminded that PCTE and its youth wing, the Collectives of Communist Youth (CJC), organize an anti-imperialist protest, against NATO Summit, on Sunday 26 June in Atocha, Madrid. 

Communist Parties held anti-NATO event in Madrid

Source: PCTE Twitter

Communists from Spain, Greece and Turkey joined their voice against NATO and the imperialist war in a political event organized by the Communist Party of the Workers of Spain (PCTE) on Saturday 28 May in Madrid. In a fully packed hall at Centro Cultural El Madroño, under the slogan “Their Wars, Our Dead”, the participants denounced the criminal role of NATO and claimed the disengagement of their countries from the imperialist organization. 

 

Representatives of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) were invited and attended the event, delivering speeches on behalf of their parties. The KKE was represented by Giorgos Marinos, MP and member of the Political Bureau, while the TKP was represented by Ekin Sönmez, Central Committee member and responsible for international relations. 

PCTE: On the Spanish government's change of stance about Western Sahara

Statement by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Workers of Spain (PCTE) on the Spanish Government's change of stance about Western Sahara:

The Spanish Government, via a letter signed by Pedro Sánchez, has modified the official stance on the conflict in Western Sahara, thus supporting the stance held by Morocco all over the years —Sahara would become an autonomous province within the Alawite kingdom.

PCTE: No to imperialist war! No a la guerra imperialista

Statement of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of the Workers of Spain (PCTE): NO TO IMPERIALIST WAR!

The conflict between imperialist powers and blocs has entered a new stage with the start of direct military actions by the Russian Federation against military targets on Ukrainian territory. In these difficult times, when there is a serious risk of the outbreak of a widespread imperialist war, the Political Bureau of the PCTE sends the following reflections to workers and to the ensemble of our people:

Spain: PCTE communists expose government's celebrations over minimum wage increase

Spain will increase the national minimum wage by 3.6% to 1,167 euros ($1,334) per month, Labour Minister Yolanda Diaz said on Wednesday. Calling the increase “a very important milestone”, Diaz said that seeking to compete with other nations by pushing down salaries in the past had led to a weak economy and precarious businesses, and was profoundly unjust.

The social democratic government of Pedro Sanchez is trying to present this decision as a great success of pro-people policy. However the rise of inflation alone diminishes the increase and the minimum wage remains below the poverty line.

Spain: Communists slam government's Labor Reform

The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of the Workers of Spain (PCTE) has issued a statement making assessments for the so-called "Labour Reform" prepared by the social democratic government of Spain.

Read the statement below in both English and Spanish:

"The Reform passed by the Government, the trade unions, and the employers' unions, carries out component #23 of the so-called Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan, and it is an essential part of the Government's commitments to the European Commission in return for the NextGenerationEU funds. 

Ástor García re-elected General Secretary of the PCTE

On November 13 and 14 were held the plenary sessions of the 2nd Congress of the Communist Party of the Workers of Spain (PCTE), called the Centennial Congress as a tribute to the founding, in November 1921, of the Communist Party of Spain as the Spanish Section of the Communist International.

Throughout the two days of debates, the delegates debated and unanimously approved the Political and Accountability Report, which analyzed the tasks carried out by the Party since the previous Congress, held in November 2017, the proposal of reform of the Statute of the Party and the Political Resolution which establishes the main tasks of the PCTE until the next Congress. Seven short resolutions on different issues were also approved unanimously.

Dolores Ibárruri — ¡No Pasarán! (They Shall Not Pass)

On July 19th, 1936, the emblematic Spanish communist Dolores Ibárruri, also known as "La Pasionaria", delivered a radio message calling the people to defend the Second Spanish Republic from the fascist military uprising. 

 

Representing the Spanish Communist Party, then part of the Popular Front Government, Ibárruri ends her speech with the historic battlecry phrase "They shall not pass" (¡No Pasarán!).

 

Dolores Ibárruri served as the General Secretary of the Central Commitee of the Communist Party of Spain from 1942 to 1960.