SOLIDARITY YES – BLOCKADE NO: Declaration by Communist and Workers' Parties against the criminal U.S. blockade on Cuba

Following an initiative by the Cypriot party AKEL, numerous Communist and Workers' Parties from across the world have co-signed a Joint Declaration of solidarity towards Cuba, demanding the immediate lifting of the criminal U.S. economic, commercial and financial blockade:

The "New Marshall Plan" — The new, yet very old, "Great Idea" of the European capital and the communists' response

The following article, written by the General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Dimitris Koutsoumbas, was published in the weekend edition of "Rizospastis" newspaper on 11-12 April 2020: 

THE "NEW MARSHALL PLAN"

The new, yet very old, "Great Idea" of the European capital and the communists' response

Sweden's "welfare state" in times of Covid-19: The Communist Party (SKP) reveals the truth

While COVID-19 pandemic threatens the lives of Sweden’s working class and people, the state seems to care about how it will protect and safeguard of capitalists’ profitability. 

The Communist Party of Sweden (SKP) has been active in exposing the cynical response of the government during the pandemic outbreak and the state’s negligence towards the health of the workers and the less privileged popular strata. 

The Communist Party of Vietnam on Covid-19 pandemic: In Solidarity We Win!

A masked woman walks in the streets of Hanoi.

The following article, written by Hoang Binh Quan, Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, addresses some basic issues on how the Party and the Vietnamese government responded to the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak:

CONSOLIDATING SOLIDARITY AND COOPERATION TO CURB AND SURPRESS COVID-19 PANDEMIC

The world has been struggling against the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in almost all countries and territories across all continents, that seriously harms people’s health and routines and negatively impacts the global economy as well as all aspects of the political and social lives. Recent developments of the pandemic project a prolonged and perilous situation carrying in which a number of adversary implications. 

75 years since the liberation of Vienna by the Red Army — 75 Jahre Befreiung Wiens

On the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Vienna by the Red Army, the Central Committee of the Party of Labour of Austria (PdA) issued the following declaration:

75 years since the liberation of Vienna

75 years ago, on 13 April 1945, the Red Army of the USSR won the Battle of Vienna. This ended the "Vienna Offensive", which cost the lives of almost 170,000 Soviet soldiers. 

Hands Off the Communists of Georgia – On the persecution of Temur Pipia

Temur Pipia, Chairman of the CC of the Unified Communist Party of Georgia, was arrested in the Georgian borders on 28-29 March, upon his arrival from Russia. 

The reason for his detention was that among his personal belongings there were commemorative medals donated by the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) for the 75th anniversary of the Great Anti-fascist People’s Victory.

The persecution is based on Georgia’s despicable anti-communist legislation which prohibits communist symbols, equating them with the ones of the nazis! 

Communists, Anti-Fascists denounce Czech authorities over the removal of Konev's statue

Members of the Communist Party (KSCM) protest the
removal of the statue in Prague.

As we wrote on April 3, the local authorities of Prague 6 municipality proceeded to the removal of the statue of Soviet Army commander and WW2 hero Ivan Konev. In a statement, the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSČM) strongly protested the decision, pointing out that the "ruling elites of Prague" have no respect for the city's history and those who liberated the country from the nazis. 

The Party calls the removal of Konev's statue a "brutal and amoral act" and urges the people of the country to express their disagreement with this decision. KSČM demands from the Czech government to restore the statue immediately, while members of the Party organized a protest in the square where the statue of Konev was located.

George Mavrikos (WFTU): "There is no vaccine, nor will it be found, to humanize capitalism"

The following article was written by George Mavrikos, General Secretary of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) which represents more than 100 million workers in 132 countries, on the occasion of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.

The King is naked

By George Mavrikos.

The entire planet is deeply immersed in the coronavirus pandemic. To this day, there are 921,002 infected and 46,153 dead, according to official data. The situation is tragic on all continents. Thousands of families mourn their dead, hundreds of thousands suffer from the disease and millions of people live with anxiety and fear. We express to all of them our solidarity.

Mexico: López Obrador sacrifices the working class for the capitalists' interests

The Political Bureau of the CC of the Communist Party of Mexico (PCM) has issued a statement, denouncing the policies of the social democratic government of President López Obrador. 

On the occasion of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, the Party stresses out that “López Obrador’s social democratic management shows that he does not care at all about the lives of workers and their families”. Last Sunday, President Obrador delivered a public message regarding the pandemic issue and his government Reactivation Plan for the Economy. 

100 years of communist struggle in Spain — Statement by the Political Bureau of the PCTE

This April marks the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the organized communist struggle in Spain, through the formation of the Spanish Communist Party (Partido Comunista Español), as well as the first anniversary of the Communist Party of the Workers of Spain (PCTE).

On the occasion of these anniversaries, the Political Bureau of the PCTE issued the following declaration:

Greece: Action Day on Healthcare "We break the silence- Masked mouths still have a voice"

Under the slogan “We break the silence, we raise our voice for the people’s health”, numerous class workers’ unions, unions of doctors and medical staff, participate in today’s Action Day throughout Greece. 

The Action Day on Healthcare has been an initiative of the Association of Hospital Doctors of Greece (OENGE) which has been in the front line of the struggle for the protection of the people’s health during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. 

"Trump, Hands Off Venezuela!" — Communist Parties blast U.S. aggression against Caracas

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. government intensifies its imperialist aggression against Venezuela, by extending economic sanctions and charging legally-elected President Nicolas Maduro and other Venezuelan officials with drug trafficking and terrorism.

Numerous Communist and Workers' Parties from across the world have issued statements condemning this criminal and unacceptable policy of the U.S. government.

Covid-19 in India: Communist and Left Parties issue joint statement, call for urgent action

In face of the COVID-19 outbreak in India, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Communist Party of India, the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist)-Liberation, tge Revolutionary Socialist Party and the All India Forward Bloc have issued the following statement:

Attend to People’s Concerns on a War-Footing

KKE: On the death of Grup Yorum member Helin Bölek after 288 days of hunger strike

In a statement published today on 902 portal, the International Relations Section of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) expresses its condolences to the family of Helin Bölek, the 28 year-old member of the Turkish music band Grup Yorum who died on Friday after 288 days of hunger strike.

The KKE condemns the persecutions industry against workers, trade uninionists, party officials, artists, academics and journalists set by Erdogan’s government, which enjoys the tolerance- even encouragement- of the EU, USA and NATO. The Party expresses its solidarity to the people’s struggle and its support to their rights and freedoms. 

Prague authorities show ingratitude towards Ivan Konev: Soviet hero's statue removed

Showing complete disrespect towards the city’s history, the municipal authorities of Prague 6 district proceeded today to the removal of the statue of Second World War hero and Red Army commander Ivan Spepanovic Konev. 

For a long time, under the tolerance of local authorities, the statue had been a target of vandalisms. Last August, unknown thugs had desecrated the monument with spray paint writing anti-soviet slogans. The attack took place on the eve of the 51st anniversary of the Soviet intervention against the counterrevolutionary uprising of 1968. 

Greece: The "Black Bible of Employers during the Pandemic" presented by PAME

In a press conference held on Thursday 2 April in Athens, the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) presented numerous cases of anti-worker policies and tactics implemented by big businesses during the last weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic in Greece.

Nikos Papageorgiou, member of the PAME Secretariat, pointed out that there is “an unprecedented attack by the big employers who are utilizing all the measures taken by the government”, adding that “with most businesses closed, the government has issued Decree Laws including provisions that abolish labour rights, cut in half the already miserable wages, empower employers with the right to pay us whenever they want, to employ us whenever, wherever and however they want.” 

54 Communist Youths issue joint declaration on Covid-19 pandemic, blast capitalism's injustice

In a joint declaration, 54 Communist Youth organizations from all over the world demand immediate measures for the protection of public health, workers and the youth in face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As 902 portal reported, the joint declaration began as an initiative of the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE) and was co-formed with the participation of many Communist Youths. The text addresses the young men and women of the world, sending a message of struggle, solidarity and optimism: “During these difficult times, the Communist Youths are here! We say it clearly: We can win! Nobody stays alone – Now it’s the time of solidarity – We will get through it together!”. 

Australia: Communist Party's statement on the government’s response to COVID-19 pandemic

Statement by the CC of the Communist Party of Australia (CPA) on the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic:

THE GOVERNMENT HAS FAILED US. THE SYSTEM HAS FAILED US. 

Coronavirus was brought into Australia by travellers from other countries, yet for weeks they were simply allowed to get off planes and ships without any government screening, at most being told to self isolate for 14 days. The onus was put on the individual traveller. This did not work. The government’s inaction has led to the virus spreading throughout the country and people dying.

KKE: Response to ND - SYRIZA hypocrisy over MP and state officials' salaries

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis requested that the members of the Cabinet and the MPs of the governing New Democracy (ND) party deposit half their salary, for the next two months, in order to support the special fund that has been set up to combat coronavirus oubreak.

SYRIZA, for its part, competing with the government in its efforts to impress, called for a mandatory, not voluntary, reduction in parliamentary salaries and benefits for all state and government officials.

Klostermarienberg 1945 — 75 years since the liberation of Austria by the Red Army

Joint declaration of the Party of Labour of Austria (PdA) and the Communist Youth Eisenstadt/Burgenland, 29 March 2020:

Exactly 75 years ago, on 29 March 1945 at 11.05 a.m., the first units of the Red Army of the USSR entered Austrian soil. This date therefore represents an important step in the liberation of Austria from fascist dictatorship and German foreign rule. 

Mobile motorized units of the Soviet 6th Guard Army of the 3rd Ukrainian Front (led by Colonel General Andrei Kravchenko) crossed the border between Hungary and the province of Burgenland near Klostermarienberg (municipality of Mannersdorf an der Rabnitz), which at that time marked the German Reich border. 

Dimitris Koutsoumbas: “EU solidarity is a joke, capitalism itself has bankrupted”

With an article published in the weekend edition of the KKE’s newspaper “Rizospastis”, General Secretary Dimitris Koutsoumbas refers to the COVID-19 situation and the political consequences of the current pandemic.  

Under the title “The end of myths and illussions”, the article draws important conclusions about healthcare in capitalism, highlighting the fact that the pandemic shows the limitations of the capitalist system itself. 

Greek Left's veteran Manolis Glezos dies at 98

Manolis Glezos, a resistance fighter during the Nazi occupation of Greece in the Second World War and a prominent figure of Greek left-wing politics, has died in Athens at the age of 98. 

Manolis Glezos acquired fame when, alongside his friend Apostolos Santas, climbed on the Acropolis on May 30, 1941 and tore down the Nazi swastika flag. This action became an inspiration for the people who were fighting against occupation, while Glezos and Santas were established as international anti-Nazi heroes. 

Capitalism Fails: 75% of Russians say Soviet era was the 'greatest time' in country’s history

Three out of four Russians (75%) think that the Soviet period was the best time in their country’s history, according to a survey published by the independent Levada Center pollster on Tuesday 24 March.

Thirty years since the counter-revolution in the Soviet Union and East Europe and despite the continuous anti-communist, anti-soviet propaganda by the bourgeois mechanisms, Russians express increasingly positive opinions about the USSR and Joseph Stalin. 

Fidel Castro: "Doctors, not bombs"

During this difficult situation of COVID-19 pandemic, with Cuba being once again a champion of internationalist solidarity, we remember the words of an extraordinary revolutionary, an exemplary communist, leader and man, Comandante Fidel Castro Ruz. 

Excerpts from Fidel’s 2003 speech given at the Law School of the University of Buenos Aires: 

"Since I am an optimist, I think this world can be saved, in spite of the mistakes made, in spite of the immense, hegemonic powers that have been created, because I believe ideas prevail over force...