Genieße den Kapitalismus: 48% of German pensioners earn less than €800 per month

Even in the European Union's economically most powerful country, Capitalism shows its rotten, barbaric nature. 

More specifically, as Deutsche Welle reports, poverty towards Germany's senior citizens becomes more and more threatening, as long as almost half (48%) of the country's retirees earn a pension of less than 800 euros per month!

It must be noted that the poverty limit in Germany – the monthly net income that someone must earn in order to be considered as “poor”- is 958 euros/month. 

Zyuganov blasts Putin's government over pension system reform: "Pensioners are offered as a sacrifice”

The governmental bill on pensions, which rises retirement age limits, is "the most cruel and cynical of the last 25 years", said the Chairman of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) Gennady Zyuganov during a discussion at the Duma.

In a fierce speech against the anti-people reform proposed by the government, Zyuganov called President Vladimir Putin not to proceed with the pension reform but, instead, to fulfill his promise for improvement of the people's quality of life. "I am appealing to the president: 77% voted for you. But 91% are against this reform.'' said the CPRF Chairman.

Kostas Papadakis (KKE): The Greece-FYROM agreement is dangerous for the people

“The recent agreement of the governments of Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia does not serve the interests of the people of the two countries and the region”, said Kostas Papadakis, MEP of the Communist Party of Greece, during his intervention at the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs.

The decision between Athens and Skopje- Papadakis said- “is being promoted with the flagrant intervention of the USA, NATO and the European Union, in collaboration with the two governments, aiming at the accession of this country [FYROM] in NATO and the European Union as a step for the Balkan's Euro-Atlantic integration, a key region for the competitions which are being escalated with other powerful states, such as Russia”.

Tsipras' effort to try to pose as a left-wing politician is laughable

Addressing a meeting of SYRIZA's Central Committee on Monday, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras gave another show of mockery, spreading new illusions about the political character of his government. 

Referring to the “end of the austerity memorandums” Tsipras said “we need a strong party, united and open to society,” as 2019 will be a “year of great battles.”

“The end of the memorandum marks the end of a political cycle for SYRIZA,” the Greek Prime Minister said, adding that the party must adapt to the times and seek to build stronger alliances with the party base. Furthermore, he once again tried to exploit the heroic historic legacy of the Greek left in order to present himself as a left-wing leader, despite the fact that his government has implemented harsh neoliberal anti-people anti-workers measures during the last 3.5 years.

The Communist Party of Finland celebrated its 100 years - Speech by JP Väisänen

In a culturally filled event held in Helsinki on 25th of August, the Communist Party of Finland (Suomen Kommunistinen Puolue) celebrated the 100 years since its foundation. In his speech, the Party's Chairperson Juha-Pekka Väisänen stressed that the dream of working people everywhere for a world free of exploitation and oppression is possible. 

The workers’ dream is possible.

The dream of workers, of workingmen and workingwomen, is possible. When we talk of the working proletariat, the particles of the cosmos coalesce. Red ignites. Revolutionary consciousness lives and summons its fighters. 

John McCain: An imperialist warmonger and Nazi-collaborator

The notorious war hawk U.S. Senator and former Presidential candidate John McCain has died. The bourgeois political system in the United States and the corporate mass media have already started their campaign to whitewash McCain, presenting him as a “hero” and a “patriot”. 

From George W. Bush to Senator Bernie Sanders and from Barack Obama to Hollywood actor Tom Hanks, the bourgeois establishment is glorifying the Arizona Senator, presenting him as “a man of decency and honor” (Sanders) and “a patriot of the highest order”.

Mass workers' rally to be organized during Alexis Tsipras visit in Thessaloniki Fair

Under the slogan "Our needs to the forefront", the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) calls the working people in mass participation in the demonstration which will take place on Saturday 8 September in Thessaloniki, during the official opening of the city's International Fair. 

"No compromise with miserable life, no more waiting", writes the PAME statement, calling the working men and women, the self-employed and unemployed people, the youth to raise their voice against the SYRIZA-ANEL government's mockery and anti-people policy. 

Marxist-Leninist Theory with Nikos Mottas | Socialist Revolution: The Political and Social Context [Audio]

Workers at Greece's Piraeus port denounce intimidation tactics by COSCO

Workers of the COSCO shipping giant at the Port of Piraeus are outraged by an incident that took place last week and shows the terrorist methods used by the Chinese multinational. 

More specifically, as the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) refers in a statement, under the commands of COSCO, unidentified henchmen assaulted the President of the COSCO Workers' Union Markos Bekris, thus causing him injuries.

PAME states that "the attack took place last week during the Union’s briefing to the workers, in the middle of the day, while the union is on procedures of collective bargaining."

KKE slams Tsipras over his celebrations for the supposed "end of austerity"

In a televised address from the Ionian island of Ithaca, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said that the country's emergence from nine years of crisis and international financial bailouts marks a “new day” for the country, a “day of redemption but also the dawning of a new era".

In a speech laden with classical symbolism, the Prime Minister said that Greece’s modern-day “Odyssey,” which had begun in 2010, had come to an end. “The bailouts of recession, austerity and social desertification are finally over.” 

“Our country regains its right to shape its own future,” Tsipras said from a hill overlooking a bay in the island where Odysseus returned after a 10-year voyage recounted by classical poet Homer. He also added that “we have left the Symplegades behind,” referring to the mythological rocks at the Bosporus that clashed together whenever a vessel went through.

Capitalism's queues: London workers are queuing up for free food, can't afford to eat

The various apologists of free market economy and slanderers of the socialist system must get used to a new term: Capitalist queues. 

According to an interesting report by The Independent, during rush hour on one of London’s most affluent streets, amid the bustle of the Strand, an orderly queue is forming. Dozens of people stand patiently, and hungrily, waiting for their dinner.  

The gathering, near Charing Cross station, comprises people of all ages and ethnicities. 

Some look visibly homeless, clutching large carrier bags containing their worldly possessions. Others wear work clothes. Despite having a job, they can’t afford to eat.

Fascists vandalized Red Army cemetery in Poland - Russian MFA asks for investigation

In an outrageous act of vandalism, unknown fascists damaged 23 metal stars on mass graves at the Gdansk cemetery where about 3,000 Soviet soldiers, civilians and prisoners of war are buried.

According to TASS, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation condemned the attack and called for an investigation without delay, urging Polish authorities to bring those responsible to justice.

Capitalism in Russia: More than 2 million young people neither work nor study

The results of a recent research conducted by the Higher School of Economics are devastating. More than 2 million young Russians aged 15 to 24 years are not engaged in work or study, writes the liberal newspaper "Kommersant". This number represents about 15% of all Russian youth of this age.

Researchers attribute young people excluded from employment and education to the NEET group (Not in Employment, Education or Training - people who do not work and do not study). This group is divided into two parts: NEET-unemployed - those who are looking for work and ready to start it, and NEET-inactive - those who do not study, have no job and are not looking for it (including those who are unemployed for health reasons and caring about other members of the family).

Federico García Lorca: 82 years since his assassination by Franco's fascists

The 18th of August marked the 82nd anniversary of the assassination of the famous Spanish poet and dramatist Federico García Lorca, who was shot by dictator Franco's death squads in 1936. 

Back then, the fascists thought that they killed him; what they didn't know was that Lorca's legacy, through his extraordinary poetry, was immortal and would remain eternal as a universal symbol of democratic Spain. 

Through his poems, Lorca glorified the notions of love, as well as the one of death, he hated despotism and the exploitation of man by man. A conscious anti-fascist, he stood against any form of injustice. Although he never joined the organized revolutionary communist movement, he was a consistent and outspoken critic of the capitalist society. In his work he condemns Capitalism's results, including poverty, misery, alienation and racism. 

Cuba's new Constitution ratifies the leading role of the Communist Party as the nation's organized vanguard

Τhe draft of the new Constitution ratifies the leading role of Cuba's Communist Party as a fundamental pillar of unity and of the political, economic and social order.

In its article 5, the document submitted from August 13 to November 15 to a popular consultation establishes that 'The Communist Party of Cuba, unique, based on Marti's ideas, loyalist and Marxist-Leninist, organized vanguard of the Cuban nation, based on its democratic character and permanent link with the people, is the highest leading force of society and the State'.

Venezuela's Communist Party denounces provocation against deputy Yhon Luna

In a statement issued on August 16th, the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV) denounces a provocative effort against its member Yhon Luna, who is allegedly linked to "terrorist, fascist, corrupt and anti-national activities". 

The PCV "strongly and forcefully reject any attempt to link the Communist Party of Venezuela or any of its leaders and militants with terrorist, fascist, corrupt and golpist actions, as it happens in the case of the campaign that has been publicly developed against our comrade Yhon Luna, member of the PCV Central Committee and the Regional Commitee of the Tachira State, (also) deputy of the legislative council."

Portugal: "Avante!" Festival to take place on 7-9 September in Lisbon's Seixal

Between 7 and 9th of September 2018, in the town of Amora, near Lisbon's Seixal district, the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) will organize its "Festa do Avante), also known as "Avante!" festival. 

The festival consists a very popular event and attracts thousands of people every year. The three-day festival includes multiple activities, including political debates, music concerts with the participation of portuguese and international artists and bands, various events on gastronomy, theatre, cinema, sporting activities, as well as a book and music fair. 

Swedish Elections: Greek immigrants call for support to the Communist Party (SKP)

Under the title "We,  the Greek immigrants vote-support the Communist Party of Sweden (SKP)", the Scandinavia Party Organisation of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) has issued a statement urging workers and immigrants in Sweden to support the SKP in the upcoming elections of September 9th.

"In the elections- writes the Party Organisation's statement- there is the alternative, the Communist Party of Sweden (Sveriges Kommunistiska Parti, SKP) which is the party that consistently struggles against the capital, the EU and NATO and the policies which the capital's parties (either "bourgeois" or "socialist" ones) support". 

"Vite di tutti, profitti di pochi": Who is to blame for Genova bridge collapse?

Poster by the Communist Party, Italy on the
Genova disaster: "Immediate Nationalisation".

At least 26 people were killed and 15 badly hurt after a motorway bridge in the northwest Italian city of Genova collapsed on Tuesday afternoon. Dozens of vehicles fell from a 45m height while, according to police sources, there are people who are still missing. 

The tragic incident in Genova seems to be another crime committed in the altar of profitability. In other words, another capitalist crime, in a system which risks the lives of the many for the profits of the few. 

The reaction from the Communist Party, Italy was immediate. In a message to his Twitter account, the Party's General Secretary Marco Rizzo offered his condolences to the families of the victims and wrote (free translation):

Turkey's currency crisis: "Our country has become the playground of international monopolies" says the Communist Party

The Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) has released a statement on the current currency crisis in Turkey, declaring that Turkey "has become the playground of international monopolies, companies and banks". 

The full statement issued by the TKP is the following:

DO NOT BE DUPED ANY MORE

Our country has become the playground of international monopolies, companies and banks, the names of which we cannot even pronounce correctly.

Palestinian activist Ahed Tamimi thanks WFTU for the support and solidarity

In a video-message, the 17-year old Palestinian activist and anti-occupation resistance fighter Ahed Tamimi expresses her gratitude to the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) for the support and solidarity towards her and her family. 

"I thank the WFTU for the support and solidarity that showed towards me and to continue this way of supporting the Palestinian cause and solidarity to all political prisoners. We are waiting you to the internationalist congress that will take place in Ramallah" says Ahed Tamimi in her message. 

Remembering Fidel Castro Ruz - Quotes on Capitalism

On the occasion of the 92nd birth anniversary of Comandante en Jefe Fidel Castro Ruz, we remember some of his wise and always interesting quotes on Capitalism, during speeches and interviews between 1989 and 1993: 

"The worker in a socialist system knows why he is working. He is not working just for himself. He is working for his fatherland, society, all the people, his children, the people he most loves, his parents and grandparents, if they are still living. He is working so that his grandparents can also receive medical attention, or have a place to go if they cannot be left alone or if there is no one to tend to them. He is working so that his grandparents can receive a pension so that no one is forgotten. In socialism, a man worksfor himself, his family, and many other things. He is not the worker from the capitalist system. The worker in the capitalist system has no other alternative but to work for money. How can a man be treated like that in socialism?"

PT-PCdoB coalition in Brazil: Be aware of social democracy bearing gifts, comrades!

By Nikos Mottas.

In a highly controversial decision, which may have negative effects for the country's working class movement in the long term, the Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB) agreed to participate in an electoral coalition with the social democratic Workers' Party (PT). 

The alliance between PCdoB and PT came as a result of the effort to create a broader alliance between "left forces" against the conservative and right-wing forces. More specifically, according to a statement issued by the Communist Party (PCdoB) "the coalition between PCdoB and PT has emerged as the possible and important alliance to build the victory of progressive forces in view of the strong orchestration of the conservative and coup forces."

How Amazon exploits workers in Japan - Communist daily 'Shimbun Akahata' reports

The exploitation of workers at Amazon's warehouses in Japan is exposed in reports published at "Shimbun Akahata", the daily newspaper of the Japanese Communist Party. 

On July 29-30th, in two continuous articles, the newspaper reported:

Jeff Bezos, founder of the leading e-commerce retailer Amazon, was ranked number one in the 2018 Forbes list of billionaires. His assets are said to amount to 112 billion dollars (about 11.9 trillion yen). In a series of articles, Akahata will lay bare the fact that workers are being grossly exploited behind Amazon’s glory.

Partidos Comunistas condenan el intento de asesinato del Presidente Maduro

Communist and Workers' Parties, as well as organizations of the people's movement, which participated at the VI Congress of the Communist Party of Mexico (PCM) in Mexico City, issued a joint statement in which they condemn the assassination attempt against the President of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro in Caracas. 

Read the statement in spanish:

Greek anti-imperialists honored the victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Demonstrators in Athens.

Hundreds of workers, young men and women, members and friends of the anti-imperialist movement in Thessaloniki, Greece's second largest city, participated in a demonstration organized by the city's Committee for International Detente and Peace honoring the 73rd anniversary since the nuclear crime in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. 

Under the slogans "Americans, murderers of the people" and "the imperialists are rediving the earth, with the people's blood they are redrawing the borders", the demonstrators marched throughout the city's central streets and expressed their solid opposition to NATO and the imperialist plans, as well as Greece's participation in them.

Dmitri Shostakovich, a child of the October Revolution

It was the 9th of August 1975 - 43 years ago- when one of the 20th century's giants of music died. He was Dmitri Shostakovich, the great Soviet composer and pianist who left his indelible mark on Russian and international culture. 

Born in Saint Petersburg in 1906, Shostakovich was a child of the Great October Socialist Revolution of 1917 from which he was deeply inspired. Throughout his life, he set his talent in the service of the people who were building the socialist society. For that he received numerous awards and decorations, both in the Soviet Union and abroad. 

Internationalist Solidarity - More than 400,000 tea workers in India are on strike demanding a 20% pay rise

The World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), which represents more than 92 million workers from the 5 continents of the globe, has expressed its solid support and full solidarity with the hundreds of thousand workers in tea plantations of Darjeeling in India, their fair struggle and demands. 

From its side, on behalf of the class trade unions and the movement of Greece, the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) issued a solidarity statement, pointing out that "the striking land workers are demanding wage increases. The present wages are poverty wrinkles while on the other hand the monopolies are continuously increasing their profits. PAME supports the workers' struggle and calls upon all trade unions to stand by their side by all means."

Swaziland: The Communist Party blasts Mswati dictatorship for workers' suicides

In a statement issued on August 8th, the Communist Party of Swaziland slams the dictatorship regime of King Mswati III for the continuous suicides of workers in the country:

The toiling masses of Swaziland are not surprised by the suicide of a young teacher on 5 August 2018 after the Swaziland government failed to pay him for three months. Yet again, Mswati has blood on his hands.

73 years since the nuclear holocaust in Japan - Statement by the WFTU

On the occasion of the 73 years since the dropping of the atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Secretariat of the World Federation of Trade Unions issued the following statement:

On August 6th 2018, seventy three years have completed since the crime in Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 9th, by the US Imperialism , which in 1945 deprived the lives of hundreds of thousands of people and thousands of others in the coming years due to the effects of radiation in the territory.

Swedish Elections 2018: Don't throw away your vote- Strengthen the Communist Party!

The general elections in Sweden have been scheduled for Sunday 9 September 2018. The people of Sweden are called to elect the members of the Parliament (Riksdag) which in turn will elect the Prime Minister. 

The working people of Sweden have a choice - and this choice isn't the bourgeois parties. The swedish working class has her own party, the Swedish Communist Party (Sveriges Kommunistiska Parti, SKP). 

KKE condemns the assassination attempt on President Maduro, denounces imperialist interference in Venezuela's internal affairs

In a statement regarding the assassination attempt against the President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro, the Press Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Greece mentions the following:

"The KKE condemns the assassination attempt on the President of Venezuela Maduro and denounces any foreign intervention in Venezuela's internal affairs.

Cuba strongly condemns the assassination attempt on Venezuelan President Maduro

In a statement released earlier, the Revolutionary Government of the Republic of Cuba strongly condemns the assassination attempt against Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and expresses full solidarity with the Bolivarian Revolution and the people of Venezuela. 

More specifically, the statement writes that the Cuban government "strongly condemns the attack against the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro Moros, on Saturday August 4 during a military parade in Caracas, on the occasion of the 81st anniversary of the founding of the Bolivarian National Guard". 

Victory! Journalist Turgut Kaya will not be extradited to Turkey

After mounting and consistent pressure from the workers-people's movement, parties and organizations, the Greek Ministry of Justice decided today not to extradite journalist and political prisoner Turgut Kaya to Turkey. 

Since the beginning of June, the 45 year-old journalist was on a hunger strike, demonstrating against the decision by the Supreme Courts 6th Section to ask his extradition to Turkey. From her side, the Greek Asylum Committee had granted political asylum to Kaya. 

"No trust in social democracy!": The PCPE exposes Pedro Sánchez's government

The Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE) issued a Resolution on July 25th titled ‘No Trust in Social-democracy! For One Country for the Working Class!’. 

Almost two months after the motion of no confidence which made Pedro Sánchez the Prime Minister, the resolution addressing the working class and the working people of Spain pointed out the mistake to place any hope in the new socialdemocrat government of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) and the need to struggle against its policies.

Greek Wildfires: Hypocrisy and Audacity

Photo credit: idcommunism.com

"Hypocrisy and Audacity".

Rizospastis, 3 August 2018.

Translation: In Defense of Communism.

With measures-mockery, the SYRIZA-ANEL government is trying to throw dust in the eyes of the fire victims, and to appease their fair indignation and at the same time conceal its criminal responsibility for the murderous disaster.

New Democracy and PASOK are pursuing the same thing, by voting in the Parliament alongside the government the crumbs for compensation and the amendment for the illegal properties, which literally excludes the current institutional framework of commercialization of land use, forests and seashore.

Communist Party of Turkey: We have to kick all of US imperialism out of our land!

Statement of the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) on the recent tension between the governments of Turkey and the United States: 

We have to kick all of US imperialism out of our land, along with its bases, soldiers and collaborators.

It is impossible to achieve this within today’s system. Because today’s rule is the rule of money bags who make huge profits owing to their close relations with the US, NATO countries and the European Union and who see those relations as the assurance of the continuation of their rule. The party that is ruling today is a party that came to power by the open support and guidance of US. Those who are having a row with the US today are the same ones who were boasting of being strategic partners with the US yesterday.

E.Yaroslavsky- History of Anarchism in Russia (The First Russian Revolution/Part II)

History of Anarchism in Russia.

By Emelyan Yaroslavsky, 1937.

II.
THE FIRST RUSSIAN REVOLUTION
(1905-07)

The Rise of Revolutionary Marxism.

In 1884 the first Russian Marxist group, known as the Emancipation of Labor, was founded in Switzerland by Plekhanov, Axelrod, Deutsch and Zasulich. It should be noted that all the organizers of this group had for several years been prominent in the Narodnik movement, and had belonged to the Bakuninist rebel wing. 

Communist Party of Mexico: Theses of the CC for the VI Congress (3-5 August 2018)

The Communist Party of Mexico (PCM) organizes its 6th (VI) Congress between 3-5 August, under the slogan "For Workers' Power and Socialist Revolution, strengthen the Communist Party". The Congress will take place in Mexico City. 

Below, we publish the original spanish text of the introductory statement made of the PCM's Central Committee, as it is published in the Tesis y Proyecto de Estatutos:

Belgium's Communist Party (PCB) withdraws membership from the "European Left"

The recent Congress of the Communist Party of Belgium (Le Parti Communiste de Belgique), which took place in Brussels, decided with a 83% majority to withdraw the Party's membership from the Party of the European Left (PEL).

According to PCB, several reasons led to this decision, including PEL's hostility towards historical socialism (20th century socialism), as well as the "unacceptable attitude of the European Left's leaders towards NATO". 

The 1968 Prague Spring: Counterrevolution as the “Trojan horse” of Imperialism

By Nikos Mottas. 

It was August 1968- 50 years ago- in the capital of the Socialist Republic of Czechoslovakia, Prague, where the internationalist solidarity of the Warsaw Pact countries were crushing one of the most significant counterrevolutionary efforts of the Cold War era. The events in Prague consist a milestone in the struggle of the socialist world against imperialism. At the same time, the then events continue serving as a source of anticommunist propaganda by various bourgeois and opportunist forces.

For many decades, the bourgeois historiography- supported by opportunists and counterrevolutionaries (trotskyites, eurocommunists, social democrats, etc.) refers to the “soviet tanks” which, as they argue, “drowned Prague in blood” thus ending prematurely the effort for a “socialism with a human face”.

Communist and Workers' Parties reaffirm solidarity with the Palestinian people

The Communist and Worker Parties decisively condemn the crimes committed by Israeli army against Palestinian people in the occupied territories, especially in the Gaza Strip, that has caused a bloodbath, murdering in cold blood unarmed demonstrators, men, women, and children.

The aggressive policy  of the Trump administration and the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and to move there the US Embassy, over and against the general international outcry, has encouraged the aggressiveness of Israel, that continues the illegal occupation of Palestinian territories and continues massacring the Palestinian people. 

Thousands of Russian workers protested against anti-people pension reform

Tens of thousands of Russians took part Saturday in rallies across the country organised by Communists to protest against government's anti-people plan to hike the pension age.

In Moscow, organisers said up to 100,000 people gathered for a permitted rally against the government-backed reform, which is currently going through parliament. However, reporters put the turnout much lower at around 10,000. Protests took place in dozens of cities and towns in far eastern Russia, Siberia and western Russia.

Communist Party of Israel: The nation-state law is a fascist step towards Apartheid

CP of Israel: The nation-state law is a fascist step towards Apartheid.

The Communist Party of Israel considers the "Basic Law: Israel -the Nation State of the Jewish People", a serious fascist step aimed at undermining the right of self-determination for the Palestinian people, and at the elimination of the rights of the refugees. This law also expels the national and basic rights of the Palestinians citizens of Israel- as the nation-state law establishes a formal Apartheid system in Israel.

Wildfires in Greece: A Capitalist Crime

At least 84 people are dead and 187 injured. The number of those missing is still unknown. Thousands of properties have been turned into ashes. The results of the deadly wildfires which affected the region of Attica are devastating.

The SYRIZA-ANEL coalition government has unleashed an outrageous communicative campaign in order to throw the blame for the disaster somewhere else, except from itself. They blame the “weather”, the “climate change”, the supposedly “unprecedented weather conditions”, the “wind”, etc.