KKE: Pre-election political events in Britain and Ireland

A week ahead of the 25 June parliamentary elections in Greece, the Party Organizations of the KKE in Britain and Ireland proceed to political meetings and gatherings. 

 

It must be noted that in the previous elections, on May 21, the KKE received 10.73% of the votes of the Greeks abroad  (10.70% in Britain), which is more than 3 per cent above its result at the national level (7.23%).

Two meetings are going to take place in England, with key speaker being Dr. Panagiotis Rentzelas, Assistant Professor in Social Psychology and candidate MP in the nationwide ballot list of the KKE. More specifically:

KKE MEPs: Urgent letter to Ursula von der Leyen for the tragic migrant shipwreck off Pylos

In an urgent letter (here in Greek) addressed to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, the Europarliament Group of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) denounces the recent tragic, deadly migrant shipwreck off the coast of South Greece and calls her to position herself on the EU's anti-immigration policy.

More specifically, the MEPs of the KKE point out in their letter:

"Mrs President,

Communist and workers' youth of the world express solidarity with Venezuela's Communist Party (PCV)

Through a joint communiqué, more than 20 youth organizations from different parts of the world expressed their concern at the "advance of dangerous actions aimed at violating the political and democratic rights of the Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV)".

The declaration was issued between May 26-28, 2023, when the General Council of the World Federation of Democratic Youth was taking place in Havana, Cuba, where the signatory organizations met to reaffirm their anti-imperialist and democratic positions and their unwavering struggle for peace and social justice for all the peoples of the world.

 

"Their profits or our lives": Statement of the KKE on the deadly migrant shipwreck off Southern Greece

Following the tragic news of the deadly migrant shipwreck off Pylos, Southern Greece, in international waters, which led to 79 confirmed deaths and numerous missing, the Press Office of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) issued a statement. 

Furthermore, the Party's General Secretary Dimitris Koutsoumbas made an emergency visit to Kalamata, while members of the KKE and its youth wing, KNE, proceeded to protests in Athens, Thessaloniki and other cities. Demonstrations are also scheduled for today throughout the country. 

Communist Youth of Denmark: On the opportunist character of the "World Anti-imperialist Platform"

The Executive Committee of the Communist Youth of Denmark (DKU) issued a statement on the so-called "World Anti-imperialist Platform", accusing it as an opportunist formation that every principled communist must condemn:

"The World Anti-imperialist Platform (WAP) is the latest addition to the consolidation of opportunist forces in this period. 

KKE denounces the dangerous games played by ND, SYRIZA and PASOK with the Muslim minority of Thrace

The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) denounces the dangerous games that New Democracy, SYRIZA and PASOK are playing with the Muslim minority of Thrace. All the more so at a time when serious unfavourable settlements in Greek-Turkish relations are in the pipeline, with the direct intervention of the US–NATO, which have established their presence in Thrace with the responsibility of both the New Democracy and the SYRIZA government.

The acute problems faced by the minority in Thrace have the same cause as those faced by the entire Greek people; therefore the struggle must be joint within the framework of the labour and popular movement. 

KKE is the only true opposition in Greece, says General Secretary Koutsoumbas

The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) is the only party that is "a 100% true fighting and popular opposition" party, said General Secretary Dimitris Koutsoumbas on Monday evening, addressing KKE's Attica branch event.

Expanding on the event's thematic title on "Who created miraculous tourism?", Koutsoumbas said it was due to KKE's support that workers in the tourism industry experienced first-hand the fact "that only the people save the people, defending their rights at work, securing collective labor agreements, and protecting them from employers' arbitrary exploitation."

Italy's Communist Front on Berlusconi's death: "We will not mourn him"

"Non lo piangeremo" (We will not mourn him" is the message by the Communist Front (Fronte Comunista) of Italy on the death of former Prime Minister and business magnate Silvio Berlusconi. More specifically, the statement published on social media reads:

"On the day of his death, politicians and newspapers will speak of him as a statesman, an example of a great entrepreneur, a man in the service of the state.

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. 

The 23rd International Meeting of Communist Parties (IMCWP) to be held in Izmir, Turkey on 20-22 October

Turkey's coastal city of Izmir will be the hosting place of the 23rd International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties (IMCWP) on October 20-22, 2023.

The decision was taken during the IMCWP Working Group meeting that was held in Istanbul on Saturday 10 June.

The responsibility for organizing and hosting of October's meeting belongs to the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP). It is reminded that Izmir had hosted the 21st IMCWP in October 2019.  

Henri Barbusse on the Soviet Union

By Nikos Mottas.

The 17th of May marked the 150th birth anniversary of French novelist, journalist and member of the French Communist Party, Henri Barbusse. He rose to fame following the publication of his novel “Le Feu” (Under Fire) in 1916, which is based on Barbusse's experiences as a soldier on the Western Front during the First World War.

The Great October Socialist Revolution, the the world-changing event of 'the twentieth century, had a profound influence on Barbusse. In January 1918 he left France and moved to Soviet Russia where he joined Lenin's Bolshevik Party. Later, in 1923, he became a member of the French Communist Party. 

Communist Party of Mexico (PCM): The “World Anti-Imperialist Platform”, a provocative group

With a well-elaborated, detailed article, the International Section of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Mexico (PCM) denounces the role of the so-called "World Anti-imperialist Platform", calling it a "provocative group" that has nothing to do with communist principles. Read below the article in English and Spanish:

The “Anti-Imperialist Platform”, a provocative group 

Cuba rejects Wall Street Journal publication on alleged Chinese military base

The Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba, Carlos Fernández de Cossío, rejected the publication of the US newspaper The Wall Street Journal about an alleged agreement between the governments of China and Cuba to establish a Chinese military base in Cuban territory to intercept communications in the United States.

In a statement, Carlos Fernández de Cossio pointed out:

 

On the political economy of contemporary imperialism: The concept of the “imperialist pyramid” and its critics

By Thanasis Spanidis

Summary in short theses: 

1. In the Programmatic Theses of Kommunistische Organisation (KO) we find (in broad outline) a clear orientation for the analysis of imperialism. The theoretical conception developed therein has now been rejected in a number of contributions to the discussion (Klara Bina, Alexander Kiknadze, to a lesser extent Paul Oswald). 

2. The assertion that the imperialist world system is characterized by a “unipolar world order” led by the USA cannot be confirmed by the available data. Both the economic and military balance of power at the top of the imperialist world order refute the picture of singular U.S. domination. 

KKE condemns reinforcement of NATO's presence in Kosovo, calls for the withdrawal of Greek forces

Statement of the Press Office of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) on the developments in Kosovo:

Unacceptable reinforcement of NATO’s presence - Greek forces must withdraw immediately

Nowadays, there is a sharpening conflict of imperialist interests in various regions of the world, including the Balkans, where the situation formed by Euro-Atlantic intervention, NATO bombings and the break-up of Yugoslavia in the 1990s remains a festering wound.

Communist and Anti-Imperialist Youth Organisations demand an end to imperialist Windsor Monarchy

On the occasion of the coronation of Charles III of England, revolutionary youth organisations from Britain, Jamaica, Canada & Australia have signed the following statement, demanding an end to the imperialist British Monarchy:

"We the undersigned Communist and Anti-Imperialist Youth Organisations of countries retaining the British Monarchy as their head of state and members of the so-called ‘Commonwealth’ reject the farce coronation of Charles Windsor and call for the immediate abolition of the British monarchy.

Communist Party of Swaziland mourns the death of its former National Chairperson Dumisani Fakudze

The Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS) has sadly learned of the passing away of Comrade Dumisani “DU” Fakudze on the early hours of June 2, 2023.

The CPS conveys its message of heartfelt condolences to Comrade Dumisani’s family, the working class as well as the mass democratic movement which he served diligently till he breathed his last.

 

Communist Party of India (Marxist): Statement on the gruesome train accident in Odisha

In a statement concerning the gruesome train crash in Odisha, which claimed the lives of at least 280 people, the Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) stresses out:

"The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) expresses its deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their dear ones in this worst rail accident in recent times. The PB calls upon all concerned authorities to prevent the rise of the death toll by ensuring speedy and urgent medical attention to the injured.

Greek Elections 2023: No anti-popular government is omnipotent when faced with a stronger KKE

On 29/5, the GS of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), Dimitris Koutsoumbas, spoke at a meeting attended by all the KKE candidates in Attica, Party cadres and other militants who joined forces with the Party in the elections. He called for a further strengthening of the KKE in the new parliamentary elections to be held on 25 June.  

“The optimistic message of these elections —without, of course, overlooking the overall negative correlation of forces— is the significant strengthening of the KKE, which won 7.23%, 427,000 votes, and 26 MPs, taking third place in Attica again, this time achieving  double-digit percentages in the working class–popular neighborhoods and an increase in all regions nationwide”, noted the GS of the CC of KKE.

10th anniversary of Gezi Park Resistance: TKP hold a protest on Istanbul's Istiklal street

Communist Party of Türkiye (TKP) organised a demonstration on Istiklal Street in İstanbul today on the 10th anniversary of Gezi Park Resistance. TKP members, who 10 years ago hung the banner of “Don’t Bow Down” on Atatürk Cultural Center -this slogan had become the symbol of the resistance afterwards- this time hung it on Demirören Shopping Mall and chanted slogans of “Everywhere Taksim Everywhere Resistance”, “Don’t Bow Down, Reclaim Your Country”, “This is just the beginning, keep on struggling”. TKP members marched on Istiklal Street and faced police intervention in the first minutes of the protest.

 

The Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) on Erdogan's re-election: No room for pessimism, we 'll be victorious

In a statement for Tayyip Erdogan's victory in the second round of the Turkish presidential elections, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) points out:

"Those who are trying to squeeze the struggle of this people into the ballot box should shut up from now on!

The results of the second round of the presidential elections have been largely finalized. Of course, it cannot be said that what emerged as the outcome of the elections, which were pointed to determine the fate of Turkey, is a hope for a bright future.

KKE: STATEMENT OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE ON THE RESULTS OF THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS OF 21 MAY 2023

STATEMENT OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE KKE

ON THE RESULTS OF THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS OF 21 MAY 2023

1. The CC hails the thousands of KKE and KNE members, supporters, individuals who cooperate with the Party and voters who contributed to the electoral battle of the KKE.

We especially hail those who took the step for the first time, the young people who casted their first vote in favour of our Party.

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. 

Dimitris Koutsoumbas: The KKE can be the only true opposition to ND's anti-popular government

Only the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) can be a true opposition to the anti-popular policies of the New Democracy (ND) government, KKE General Secretary Dimitris Koutsoumbas said in an interview with the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA) published on Sunday.

"There is today but one dilemma: Either you give consent to the support of the government's anti-popular policies or you support the only true opposition from the point of view of working-class, popular interests," the General Secretary said, urging voters to further strengthen KKE in the upcoming elections on June 25.