COVID Vaccines: Communist Parties say "No" to patents

On the issue of the patent for the COVID-19 vaccines, more than 60 Communist and Workers' Parties have issued the following statement:

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a great tragedy for more than a year now. In this period, in many countries, millions of workers have caught the disease, losing their health, their jobs or even their lives. On the other hand, in the same time frame, some companies that have sold the essential needs food, hygienic materials, masks and finally, vaccines, as commodities, have become among the wealthiest in the world. The capitalist class has turned the pandemic into an opportunity for greater exploitation of workers in order to make more profits. 

Workers’ May Day 2021 in Greece: Militant rallies in Athens, Thessaloniki and other cities

With large, militant rallies in Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras, Piraeus and other cities, the working class of Greece honored today, May 6th, the International Worker's Day. 

The class unions organized multi-faceted strike events throughout the country in spite of the ND government decision to move May Day on Tuesday. Thousands of people, workers, young men and women gathered today in Syntagma Square, Athens, in a demonstration organized by dozens of unions that participate in the ranks of the All-Workers’ Militant Front (PAME), thus sending a powerful message against the anti-labour policies of the government. 

SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE AND WORKERS OF COLOMBIA — SOLIDARIDAD CON EL PUEBLO DE COLOMBIA

Ivan Duque's government escalates repression against the people of Colombia. Already 19 people have been killed while numerous human rights violations have been reported. The World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) and Communist Parties from Latin America have issued statements condemning the murderous violence unleashed by the Colombian state.

URGENT CALL BY THE WFTU TO EACH TRADE UNIONIST, MILITANT OF THE CLASS TRADE UNION MOVEMENT THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE AND WORKERS OF COLOMBIA

#VoteCommunist: Britain's Communist Party ready for May 6 local elections

Local elections in Britain are due to be held on 6 May 2021 for 145 English local councils, thirteen directly elected mayors in England and 39 police and crime commissioners in England and Wales. 

 

There are also elections to the Scottish Parliament, Senedd (Welsh Parliament) and London Assembly, the last in conjunction with the London mayoral election. 

May Day 2021: KKE and KNE in rallies across Europe

Brussels (902.gr)

Thousands of workers, men and women, took to the streets across Europe on Saturday May 1st in order to honor the International Workers' Day, amid varying levels of Coronavirus restrictions.

Members and friends of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and the Communist Youth (KNE), who live in France, Germany, Britain, Belgium, Sweden and other countries participated actively in the May Day rallies, 902 portal reports. 

Long live International Workers’ Day! Long live socialism: Statement by the European Communist Initiative

Statement by the Initiative of the Communist and Workers' Parties for the 2021 May Day, the International Worker's Day:

The Parties of the European Communist Initiative send a warm militant salute to the workers of our Continent, to the working class of the world. 

We are inspired by the flame of the workers of Chicago, we honor the men and women of our class who fell on the battlefields of the class struggle.

Vladimir Lenin and the timeliness of his work: Contributions by European Communist and Workers' Parties

On Thursday, 22 of April, 2021, 151 years since the birth of the leader of the October Revolution, the parties of the European Communist Initiative (ECI) held a teleconference dedicated to Lenin and the timeliness of his work, following a decision of the ECI Secretariat. 

The teleconference was attended by Communist and Workers' parties from the following countries: Austria, Belarus, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Moldova, Norway, Poland, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine. 

Click here to read the introductory speech of Giorgos Marinos, member of the Political Bureau of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE).  

Derek Chauvin verdict is a victory for justice won by people’s struggle, says the Communist Party USA

"The Communist Party USA celebrates this verdict, a victory for justice won by people’s struggle. Much remains to be done before the racist killings of African Americans by the police ceases", reads a statement of the Communist Party USA (CPUSA) concerning the conviction of police officer Derek Chauvin who murdered George Floyd on May 25, 2020.

Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty of all charges, including  second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. 

Stepan Malentsov elected new First Secretary of the Russian Communist Workers’ Party-CPSU

Stepan S. Malentsov is the new First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Russian Communist Workers' Party (RCWP-CPSU) as it was decided at the XII (XXII) Congress that took place in Moscow. 

 

Born in 1962, a mechanical engineer by profession, Malentsov is a long-time trade unionist and member of the Political Council of "Rot Front". He replaces Viktor Tyulkin in the position of the First Secretary.

Below you can read a report regarding the XII (XXII) Congress of RCWP-CPSU:

May Day 2021 — Statement by the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU)

“Hope lies in our struggles”

The World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), representing 105 million workers in 133 countries of the planet, sends a warm militant and internationalist greeting to the workers of the world, on the occasion of May Day 2021, this important day for the world working class. Each reflection, action and plan of the WFTU – especially in this difficult period for the workers and peoples of the world – has as its sole guide the interests of the working class. This 2021 will be a year of preparation for the world’s largest trade union event – the 18^th World Trade Union Congress.

Lenin's work is timely — Speech by G. Marinos at the online event of the European Communist Initiative

On Thursday, 22 of April, 2021, 151 years since the birth of the leader of the October Revolution, the parties of the European Communist Initiative (ECI) held a teleconference dedicated to Lenin and the timeliness of his work, following a decision of the ECI Secretariat.

The teleconference was attended by a delegation of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) comprised of Giorgos Marinos, member of the PB of the CC of the KKE, Eliseos Vagenas, member of the CC and head of the Section of International Relations of the CC, Kostas Papadakis, member of the CC and MEP, and Aris Evangelidis, member of the Section of International Relations of the CC.

India: Communist Party leader Sitaram Yechury urges PM Modi to take urgent action as Covid crisis deepens

India's healthcare system is buckling as a record surge in Covid-19 cases puts pressure on hospital beds and drains oxygen supplies. According to international reports, families are left pleading for their relatives who are desperately ill, with some patients left untreated for hours.

Crematoriums are organising mass funeral pyres. On Friday 24 April India reported 332,730 new cases of coronavirus, setting a world record for a second day running. Deaths were numbered at 2,263 in 24 hours. 

Dimitris Koutsoumbas on Armenian Genocide Memorial Day

In a statement for the Armenian Genocide Memorial Day, observed on April 24^th , the General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Dimitris Koutsoumbas points out:

"The Armenian people were one of the great and tragic victims of Turkish nationalism and imperialist competitions of the First World War period. 106 years later we remember and honor the victims of the Armenian Genocide.

Stalin Center: Museum dedicated to Stalin to be constructed in Nizhny Novgorod

A museum dedicated to Soviet leader Joseph Stalin will be constructed in the region of Nizhny Novgorod in Russia. 

According to the local committee of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF), the first stone will be laid at an event scheduled for May 8, 2021 in the city of Bor, at Nizhny Novgorod Obslast. On the same day, a time capsule will be laid, to be opened on May 9, 2045, on the 100th anniversary of the Great Antifascist Victory of the Peoples. 

Communist Party of Pakistan: The country is in deep danger

The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Pakistan issued the following statement:

At the moment, the whole world is fighting Covid 19, but the Pakistani state is fighting its own organisation, the Tehreek-e-Lubaik Pakistan (TLP).

We have been demanding that the state change its statement.  The state sometimes bans the Communist Party, sometimes nationalist organisations and sometimes religious organisations and adopts a violent path.  But that doesn't fix the root cause.  The Pakistani state suffers from many contradictions.  

"El Machete": Communist Party of Mexico's historic gazette to be relaunched on May 1st

The Communist Party of Mexico (PCM) issued a statement about the resurgence of the newspaper El Machete, organ of the Central Committee of the Party. Read below the statement, published on solidnet.org, in both English and Spanish:

"El Machete is used to cut the cane,
to open the paths in the shady forests, to behead snakes,
to cut down all the weeds 
and to humiliate the arrogance of the impious rich."

Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez elected as first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba

President of the Republic Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez was elected today, Monday, as first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee, during the first plenary meeting of the leadership body, elected by the delegates to the 8th Party Congress Sunday evening. 

 

Army General Raúl Castro Ruz made this announcement after reporting the 14 members of the Political Bureau, including nine returning to the body and five added as new members: 

Communist Party of Britain: The European Super League is an assault on the game of the working class

With the following comment, posted on its social media accounts under the title "Listen to fans and players", the Communist Party of Britain (CPB) denounces the "European Super League" formed exclusively by major football clubs. 

The comment reads:

"The Super League proposal is an attempt by the wealthy clubs to establish a perpetual monopoly and to resolve their debt issues: Barcelona are £1bn in debt and in financial crisis. Real Madrid could not afford one big signing last summer, Juventus have to find around £100m by the end of June. Internazionale’s owners sought emergency funding in February.

Lenin Mausoleum reopened to visitors after six months

Hundreds of people lined up on Saturday in Moscow's Red Square in order to visit the Mausoleum of Vladimir Lenin which reopened after closing for six months due to COVID-19 restrictions and restoration works.

According to Russian media, yesterday morning crowds began to gather near the entrance of the mausoleum thus creating long queues which were stretched out almost to the exit of Alexander Garden. 

Goebbels in Florida: Red Scare bill declares November 7th as... "victims of communism day"

A monstrous anti-communist bill that falsifies history was approved on Wednesday by the Florida House of Representatives. More specifically, according to the bill (HB 1553) students in Florida schools would be taught each year about “how people have suffered and died under communist regimes”!

Furthermore, the bill requires the governor of annually issue a proclamation designating November 7th – the anniversary day of the Great October Socialist Revolution – as... “Victims of Communism Day”!

KKE: Statement on Cavusoglu-Dendias meeting in Ankara

On Thursday 15 April, the Foreign Ministers of Turkey and Greece, Mevlut Çavuşoğlu and Nikos Dendias respectively, hold a meeting in Ankara where they discussed major issues concerning the relations between the two countries.

In a statement about the meeting, the Press Office of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) points out:

Our people cannot and should not become complacent about the meeting of Foreign Minister N. Dendias with President Erdoğan and Foreign Minister M. Çavuşoğlu in Ankara, following the “exploratory talks” between the two NATO allies.

The 8th Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba kicks off today in Havana

The 8th Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) begins today, Friday 16 April, in Havana. 

Delegates to the 8th Party Congress from several provinces arrived in the Cuban capital on Wednesday night, excited to attend the historic event and honored to represent millions of Cubans.

In strict compliance with COVID-19 sanitary protocols, delegations from five eastern provinces, plus, Camagüey and Ciego de Avila, were welcomed by Party Central Committee staff at the Palco Hotel, next to event’s venue, the Convention Center, in Havana.

The 21st Congress of the KKE to be held on 24-27 June 2021

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) announced today that the Party's 21st Congress will be held on 24-27 June 2021. 

In this decision the CC took into account the course of the pandemic and the difficulties that objectively arise, due to the inadequacies and the huge shortcomings in the public health system, under the responsibility of all bourgeois governments to date and the management of the crisis by the New Democracy government.

KKE: The supporters of the Nazis are not welcome in Crete

A paratroopers organization known as "European Paratroopers Association" purportedly planned to hold a "commemorative event" in honor of the Nazi troops who parachuted into the island of Crete on May 1941. 

The event, which is allegedly scheduled to take place on May 17-23, 2021, in Crete was published in the group's website under the title "Kreta Memorial, decorated with the Nazi "Iron Cross" and accompanied by the following outrageous remarks: "It has been exactly 80 years since the III Reich Elite Troops jumbed and conquered the island of Crete. We will never forget their valor."  

Communist Party of Italy: The hypocrisy of Pope Francis

In his preaching at Santo Spirito Church in Sassia close to the Vatican, on Sunday 11 April, Pope Francis claimed that the ideal of sharing property - in contrast to private ownership - is "pure Christianity and not Communism". 

Commenting on Pope's remarks, the Communist Party, Italy (Partito Comunista) characterized them as "hypocritical". Here is the full comment:

"The Pope states that sharing property is a Christian gesture and not a communist one, which means that the Catholic Church has never done anything Christian in its entire existence, limiting itself only to preaching the famous Christian charity without ever, in fact, implementing it.

Yuri Gagarin's spaceflight 60th anniversary: When the Soviet Union conquered space

Sixty years ago, on 12 April 1961, a hero of the Soviet Union, cosmonaut Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin, became the first man in outer space marking a new era in human history. 

 

On this occasion we remember and honor this great man whose legacy is intextricably linked with the legacy of his socialist motherland, the Soviet Union which played a leading role in mankind's effort to explore and conquer space. 

Workers' Party of Ireland condemns violent riots in Northern Ireland, calls for workers' unity

On the occasion of the recent escalation of violent clashes in Northern Ireland, the Workers' Party of Ireland issued the following statement:

"The Workers’ Party, once again, strongly condemns the violence and disorder which took place last night.

This is not the correct way for the Unionist community to air their frustrations and only further fuels the sectarian divide. Elected leaders, Trade Unions and community representatives must use all their influence to deter young people from engaging in this behaviour and instead encourage people to come together, to stand with decency, common sense and progressive ideas which will better serve our communities and our citizens.

Forbes list of wealthiest parasites in times of pandemic

While billions of people around the world have been affected, on way or another, by the Coronavirus pandemic, capitalists are becoming richer. While the world's working class is suffering from increasing exploitation, mass layoffs, decline in living standards and lockdowns, the big capital enjoys more and more profits. The 2021 Forbes list of billionaires is quite revealing about the situation:

“The number of billionaires on Forbes’ 35th annual list of the world’s wealthiest exploded to an unprecedented 2,755 — 660 more than a year ago. Of those, a record high 493 were new to the list — roughly one every 17 hours.

Kenyan police storms Communist Party offices in Nairobi

In an arbitrary move Kenyan police stormed on Wednesday 7 April the headquarters of the Communist Party of Kenya in Nairobi and proceeded to the arrest of party members. 

 

The operation of the police took place without any court warrant. 

According to the Communist Party, the police officers were intent on breaking into the strong room where key party records are kept. 

Requisition of private health sector, mass hirings in public hospitals are necessary, says KKE leader Koutsoumbas

Mass hiring in public hospitals, the immediate requisition of the private health sector and the inclusion of healthcare personnel in the arduous and hazardous jobs social insurance category are the measures that are necessary today, pointed out the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Dimitris Koutsoumbas during a visit today, World Health Day, in Evangelismos hospital in Athens.

Madrid regional election 2021— Comunismo es libertad: The Communist Party of the Workers of Spain will be present!

The 2021 Madrid regional election will be held on Tuesday, 4 May 2021, to elect the 12th Assembly of the Community of Madrid. All 136 seats in the Assembly will be up for election. 

On this occasion the Communist Party of the Workers of Spain (PCTE), which participates in the upcoming election under the slogan "Communism is Freedom", issued the following statement. Read it in English and Spanish:

Vladimir I. Lenin — Lessons of the Paris Commune

By Vladimir Ilyich Lenin.

After the coup d état, which marked the end of the revolution of 1848, France fell under the yoke of the Napoleonic regime for a period of 18 years. This regime brought upon the country not only economic ruin but national humiliation. In rising against the old regime the proletariat under took two tasks—one of them national and the other of a class character—the liberation of France from the German invasion and the socialist emancipation of the workers from capitalism. This union of two tasks forms a unique feature of the Commune.

Turkish communists in Germany: Petition against Erdogan's decision to withdraw Turkey from Istanbul Convention

The Germany branch of the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) has launched a petition against the recent decision of Erdogan's AKP government to withdraw Turkey from Istanbul Convention.

In a declaration the TKP Party organization in Germany points out that "AKP does not have the legitimacy to draw the boundaries of womens' right to life and living space in this country", adding that "it should not be forgotten that in Turkey, where feminicide and violence against women are on the rise, all reactionary sects and religious communities, together with the AKP, targeted the Istanbul Convention". 

Greece 2.0 plan will bring more sacrifices for the workers, says the KKE

"The only new things brought by the 'Greece 2.0' plan presented by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis are more sacrifices for workers and the people to help a recovery of the profits of the few," the Press Bureau of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) stated on Wednesday.

The National Recovery Plan constitutes a bridge between the Greece of memorandums and post memorandums commitments and the European 'super memorandum', the EU Recovery Fund. 

EU Commission: An accomplice in Polish government's effort to ban the Communist Party

Once again the European Union provocatively turns a blind eye to anti-communist persecutions that are taking place in its member-states. 

 

Two months ago, EU Commission's Vice President Vera Jourová, answering a question submitted by the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) MEP Kostas Papadakis, had actually justified the despicable anti-communist legislation of the Slovakian government (read here). 

Lenin's bronze statue to be erected in Manhattan, New York City mayor confirms

A 16 feet tall bronze statue of Vladimir Lenin will be erected in Manhattan's Union Square, NYC mayor Bill de Blasio confirmed in a press release today.

The effigy was made in 1934 in Leningrad and was acquired in 1992 by a Ukrainian American businessman following an auction in Berlin.

"The city of New York is proud and pleased to honor the legendary leader of the 1917 October Revolution and founder of the first workers' state in the world, Vladimir Ilyich Lenin", reads a statement by the mayor's office, adding that "despite the fierce reaction by anti-communist and right-wing organizations and groups, the statue will be unveiled in a ceremony on May 1, 2021". 

Communist Party of Mexico blasts police repression over the murder of Salvadoran migrant in Quintana Roo

The death of 36 year-old Victoria Esperanza Salazar – a Salvadoran migrant who died in Tulum, Mexico, after a policewoman put her knee on her back for several minutes – continues to evoke outrage on after additional details of her life and how she died surfaced.

In a statement, the party organization of the Communist Party of Mexico (PCM) in Yucatán peninsula points out: 

Myanmar Protests — Communist Parties condemn military regime's violence, express solidarity to the people

The situation in Myanmar is getting worse day by day, with the death toll of military crackdown against anti-coup demonstrators surpassing 500. According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) at least eight civilians were killed in Myanmar's biggest city Yangon on Monday 29 March. 

The military regime, which ousted elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1, is escalating violence against protesters. 

Communist Parties across the world condemn the violent practices of the dictatorial regime and express their solidarity towards the protesting people of Myanmar.

Swaziland's Communist Party (CPS) to hold its 4th National Congress on 2-4 April

The Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS) will hold its 4^th National Congress from Friday 2 April to Sunday 4 April 2021 under the theme Decisive mobilisation for Democracy Now. The CPS will greatly appreciate messages from the International Communist and Workers’ Parties to the CPS 4^th National Congress.

The CPS Congress will review the work of the Party since the previous Congress, analyse the current situation in Swaziland, engage in thorough analysis of the Party’s progress thus far as well as the condition of the oppressed people and revolutionary forces in the fight against the tinkhundla system and imperialism. The Party will also elect its national leadership.

Palestinians Land Day: Statement by the WFTU

On the occasion of the 45th Palestinians Land Day, the Secretariat of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) issued the following statement: 

 

"The World Federation of Trade Unions, representing 105 million workers in 132 countries around the globe, commemorates the Palestinians Land Day and the heroic resistance of the People of Palestine on March 30th 1976 against the Israeli expropriation of Palestinian land. 

 

Erdogan Vs Women: Turkish communists on the front line of the struggle for women's rights

In the early hours of March 20, Turkey's government issued a decree deciding to pull out of the Istanbul Convention to combat the violence against women. Although the AKP government was giving signs of this decision earlier and peaked the debate in August 2020, by lobbying against the Convention, the decree came as a sudden decision after midnight and sparked tension.

Hundreds of women took to the streets on Saturday afternoon, declaring the decision as an attack of the AKP government against the health and lives of the women in Turkey. Several protests were organized in different cities of the country. While Erdogan's cabinet and pro-AKP circles celebrated the decision, the progressive organizations and opposition groups condemned the decision.

Norway's Communist Party (NKP) faces obstacles on the road to parliamentary elections

The parliamentary election in Norway is scheduled to be held on 13 September 2021. The two major bourgeois parties that will contest for the majority of the 169 seats in the Storting, the country's parliament, are the governing Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) and the opposition Conservative Party. 

Among the political forces that aim to participate in the election is the Communist Party of Norway (NKP), a party of marxist-leninist ideological characteristics which is a member of the European Initiative of Communist and Workers' Parties and a participant in the International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties (IMCWP). 

League of Young Communists USA denounces Biden's warlike policy against the people of Korea

In a statement the International Department of the CC of the League of Young Communists USA denounces Biden administration's warlike policy against the people of Korea. The statement reads:

"The extradition of a DPRK citizen living in Malaysia, Mun Chol Myong, by the United States is a political arrest and kidnapping in broad daylight in defiance of international law and stability. Malaysia, a country which had a fascist military coup within recent years, proves the country’s subservience to the United States.

KKE slams Greek Premier Mitsotakis' visit to USS Dwight D. Eisenhower

Just two days before the celebration of the 200th anniversary of Greece's Revolution of Independence on March 25, 1821, Greek Premier Kyriakos Mitsotakis decided to pay a visit to a symbol of U.S. imperialism - the United States Navy aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower which is docked at the Souda naval base in the island of Crete. 

For the record, the Prime Minister was received by the Commander of the US Navy in Europe and Africa, Admiral Robert Burke, and Lieutenant Colonel Scott Robertson, commander of the strike team led by “Eisenhower". 

Iranian communist Ali Khavari dies: Statement by the Tudeh Party of Iran

Ali Khavari, a veteran Iranian communist and a long-time leading figure of the Tudeh Party of Iran, died on March 19th at the age of 98. The following is an abridged version of a statement issued by the Tudeh Party:

Mourning the passing of the Party's “voice of righteousness”, tireless militant, and “spiritual asset” of Iran’s working people!

It is with deep sorrow that the Central Committee of the Tudeh Party of Iran announces the passing of Comrade Ali Khavari, the veteran Leader of the Tudeh Party of Iran. 

90th anniversary of the Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV) — Speech by General Secretary Oscar Figuera

Intervention by Oscar Figuera González, Secretary General of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV), in the event for the 90th anniversary of the Party held on March 5th, 2021: 

Good morning, comrades. Please receive the fraternal and solidarity greetings of all the membership and leadership of the Communist Party of Venezuela and the communist youth, with all our militant commitment in the anti-imperialist struggle for national liberation and for socialism-communism.

KKE denounces the persecution of HDP deputy Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu in Turkey

In a statement issued today the Press Bureau of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) denounces the political prosecution against the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party's MP Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu by the Turkish government.

More specifically the statement, which was published on 902 portal, points out: