KKE General Secretary on U.S. Presidential election: "Trump has lost but the policy that serves imperialism is here"

Joe Biden is officially the President-elect of the United States after beating incumbent President Donald Trump in the November 3rd elections. 

 

Commenting on the outcome of the U.S. Presidential Election, the General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Dimitris Koutsoumbas pointed out that those who cultivate false expectations about a positive role of Biden's Presidency will be refuted, he reminded the war record of Democratic U.S. Presidents and called for a stronger opposition against American imperialism. 

More specifically, the statement of Dimitris Koutsoumbas is as follows:

Nostalgia for Socialism: Most Russians say that life would be better if Perestroika had never happened

Thirty-five years have passed since the beginning of Mikhail Gorbachev disastrous Perestroika policy which led to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. Today, almost half of the Russian people believe that life would be better if Perestroika had never happened. 

According to a poll conducted by Levada Center, 47% of Russians acknowledge that life in the country was better before Gorbachev's destructive reform plan, with just 39% disagreeing. A 14% of the participants found "difficult to answer". 

Gus Hall: A great figure of the U.S. communist movement

By Nikos Mottas.

The 13th of October marked the 20th anniversary since the death of American communist and long-time leader of the Communist Party, USA (CPUSA) Gus Hall.

General Secretary of the CPUSA from 1959 to 2000, Hall was one of the most brilliant figures of the U.S. communist movement, alongside William Z. Foster, Paul Robeson, Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, W.E.B. Du Bois and others.

His birthname was Kustaa Halberg and was born in 1910 in Saint Louis County, Minesota. Son of Finnish immigrants, he grew up in a working class family and was involved early on in the labor movement. He left school at the age of 15 in order to support his poor ten-child family by working in mines, railroads and lumber camps. 

Vienna Attack: Statement by the Party of Labour of Austria

Statement by the Central Committee of the Party of Labour of Austria (PdA) on the terrorist attack in Vienna:

We condemn yesterday's attack in Vienna, which according to initial information was carried out by a sympathizer of the "Islamic State". Our sympathy goes to the victims of this heinous terrorist attack, all civilians and police officers who were injured and all relatives who lost people.

Religious fundamentalism, as we see it today, is a product of imperialism and serves capital as an instrument of domination and power. In the countries of the Near and Middle East, it is precisely the most reactionary religious groups and states which are the closest allies of imperialism in the struggle against democratic and revolutionary movements. 

Nagorno-Karabakh conflict: Armenian communists call for an unconditional ceasefire

In a statement published in SolidNet, the Communist Party of Armenia refers to the tense situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and calls the fraternal Communist and Workers' Parties to support peace and an unconditional ceasefire.

The statement reads:

We call on communists from all parties across the world to join us in demanding an end to the war and for the resolution of all outstanding disputes between the Republic of Azerbaijan and Republic of Armenia through dialogue and diplomacy based on the UN Charter and respect for the rights of nations to self-determination.

Under the Shadow of the Revolution: Berlin, Warsaw, Ankara 1920 — Book by Kemal Okuyan

The International Relations Bureau of the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) launched the latest book of Kemal Okuyan, the General Secretary of TKP, titled "Under the Shadow of the Revolution: Berlin, Warsaw, Ankara 1920" in English and published by Yazılama Editorial House.

Originally published in Turkish in 2019, this work does not only analyzes the achievements but also the shortcomings of the communist movement during the rise of the revolutionary wave in the early 20th century.

Australia's Communist Party celebrated its 100th anniversary

Source: Communist Party of Australia.

On October 30th, the Communist Party of Australia (CPA) marked its 100th anniversary. On this occasion a number of events have been organized in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth from 29th October to 1st November 2020. 

In a press release, the Communist Party points out: 

"Only one conclusion can be drawn on surveying 100 years of Communist; that the party has has a colourful and successful past. In the first decade the Party struggled with the boom of the early 20s but as the depression hit the Party gained much notice as the organisers of the unemployed, providing food and pressure on Government to provide resources for the unemployed. They ran eviction struggles and these made headlines in Sydney and in other parts of Australia. 

Greek and Turkish young communists express solidarity with earthquake-ridden people in both countries

“It is not inevitable for our lives to be crushed! Life shall win, with the struggles, the power, our dreams”! 

With this phrase the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE) and the Communist Youth of Turkey (TKG) express their internationalist solidarity during these difficult times for the two countries, following the strong earthquake that struck off Greece and Turkey coast on Friday.

In a joint statement published in 902 portal, KNE and TKG point out:

Indian communists condemn US-India Military Alliance

In a joint press statement issued on October 28th, the Communist Party of India and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) point out the following:

"The 2+2 meeting of the Indian and US Defence and Foreign Ministers held in Delhi on October 27 has resulted in the signing of the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) on geo-spatial cooperation. 

With this agreement, all the so-called foundational agreements for a military alliance with the United States have been completed. This also comes in the wake of the joint naval exercise, "Malabar exercise", between the four partners of the Quad which has been announced to be held in November.  

U.S. Election 2020: Neither Trump nor Biden!

By Nikos Mottas.

On November 3rd, the people of the United States of America will vote for the new President and vice president of the country. The two major contestants, current President Donald Trump and the Democratic nominee Joe Biden, are the two sides of the same coin. It is an undeniable truth that they both express the general strategic interests of the U.S. monopoly capital.  

The differences in the political proposals between Trump and Biden reflect the sharpening of the competition between different sections of the U.S. capital. Indeed, a look at the top donors of the two presidential campaigns is indicative of the fierce rivalry that is taking place in the backstage between large monopoly groups.

Polish communists strongly condemn abortion ban ruling

“Forcing women to give birth to terminally ill, deformed children, incapable of having an independent and conscious life is a crime”, points out the Communist Party of Poland (KPP) commenting on the recent controversial ruling by the country's constitutional court which banned almost all abortions.

According to the reactionary decision, abortions carried out when the fetus is malformed, which accounted for 98% of legal terminations last year, are outlawed. Although fewer than 2,000 legal abortions are carried out each year in Poland, it is estimated than up to 200,000 terminations are either performed illegally, or abroad.

European Communist Initiative: The pandemic reveals the criminal inadequacy of health systems in all capitalist states

Statement by the European Initiative of Communist and Workers' Parties on the new outbreak of the pandemic:

The new outbreak of the pandemic throughout Europe is a reality that did not come out of thin air. The claims of the bourgeois governments that they “took measures” and “shielded the public health systems” after the first wave of the pandemic, as well as that “in the course of the pandemic the EU wised up and stands in solidarity with the peoples”, are myths.

Following the new wave of the pandemic, all these claims are day by day revealed and bankrupt. The increase in deaths, cases, and intubated patients reveals the responsibility of the EU and the government directions over time, which left the public health systems destitute of staff, infrastructure, ICUs, reagents, and tests.

Russia: Communists restored damaged monuments of Lenin

With the decisive intervention of communists and the local society two previously damaged monuments of Vladimir I. Lenin were restored in the Russian regions of Belgorod and Perm Krai. 

In the village of Gorki, Krasnensky District in Belgorod Region, a bust of Lenin which was dismantled in 2013 by the local administration, was restored on October 23rd in a ceremony attended by cadres and supporters of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF). 

U.S. genocidal blockade against Cuba causes 5 billion dollars in damages in a year — Full Report

The US Blockade on Cuba, according to international law, has been a criminal and genocidal act since its inception almost 60 years ago, but its extreme reinforcement and cruelty amid the COVID-19 pandemic has no precedent, said Cuban Foreign Minister.

In presenting on Thursday the annual report on the blockade's impact on the island, Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla said that estimates of damages surpass the 5 billion dollars.

"From April 2019 through March 2020, the blockade has inflicted losses to Cuba estimated in 5 500 million dollars. This is the first time that the blockade's damages surpass the 5 billion in a year, and that's a very conservative estimate," said the minister.

Italy's Unione Sindacale di Base (USB): Ten years of class-oriented, independent and internationalist activity

This year marks the 10th founding anniversary of Unione Sindacale di Base (USB), Italy's independent, class-oriented trade union. In a message for the 10th anniversary the USB points out: 

"We could not celebrate together the tenth anniversary of USB, we do it now with this video that traces some important moments of our existence.

From the first congress, that of the unification between RdB and Sdl Intercategoriale, to date, thousands of initiatives, struggles, conferences, participation in international events have marked our first ten years.

KKE on Golden Dawn trial verdict: "No room for complacency. Fascism is the true offspring of this rotten system"

The Golden Dawn Trial in Greece, the largest trial of Nazis since the Nuremberg trials, has come to an end. In a historic verdict announced on Thursday, the Athens Court of Appeal ruled that 38 of the 50 defendants found guilty will go to jail, among which are 13 former MPs in the Greek parliament.

Among those the court has ruled should go to prison for their participation in Golden Dawn, which has been ruled a criminal organisation in the guise of a political party, are its leader Nikos Michaloliakos, current MEP Yiannis Lagos, and former MPs Ilias Kasidiaris, Christos Pappas, Ilias Panagiotaros, Giorgos Germenis and Artemis Matthaiopoulos, who were all found guilty of running a criminal organisation.

Koba is back: Stalin statue to be erected in South Ossetia

A three-meter monument, dedicated to the legendary Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, will be erected in the village of Tsorbisi, in South Ossetia. The initiator of the project is Dzambolat Tedeev, head coach of the Russian national freestyle wrestling team.

The statue, made by Ossetian sculptor Ibragim Khayev, will be placed in Tsorbisi's Stalin Square, the construction of which had also been financed by Tedeev.

Although Stalin, whose actual name was Joseph Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili, was an ethnic Georgian born in Gori, many people in North and South Ossetia regard him an "ethnic Ossetian". 

John Reed - author of the "Ten Days that Shook the World": 100 years since his death

John Reed's name has been inextricably linked to the events of the 1917 Great October Socialist Revolution. His book “Ten Days that Shook the World” is a first hand experience of the Revolution that changed the course of human history.

Reed was born on October 22, 1887 in Portland, Oregon. He attended Portland public schools and graduated from Harvard University in 1910. Soon after his graduation he began working as a journalist in various publications including the American Magazine and the The Masses. 

Justice for María Florencia Gómez — Argentine communist activist murdered in Santa Fe

A young and politically active woman, member of the Communist Party of Argentina and staunch supporter of women's rights, María Florencia Gómez Pouillastrou was murdered last Monday in Santa Fe. The lifeless body of the 35 years-old activist was found on a rural road in the town of San Jorge with signs of head injury caused by a strong blow.

In a statement, the Communist Party of Argentina and the Communist Youth Federation announced the tragic news, expressing their firm conviction that justice will be done and the perpetrators of the crime will be punished.

Veteran Polish communist Kazimierz Jarzębowski dies

The Communist Party of Poland (KPP) and the country's workers movement mourn the death of veteran communist and long-time activist Kazimierz Jarzębowski. Born in January 1923, Jarzebowski began his communist activity before the Second World War. 

In January 1941, on his 18th birthday, he fled to the USSR in order to support the anti-fascist struggle. He returned to occupied Poland a few months later, in June, and was arrested by the Nazis for his anti-fascist activities, including helping Soviet prisoners of war. Subsequently Kazimierz Jarzębowski was deported as a forced labourer to Germany. 

New Communist Party of the Netherlands: The consequences of the pandemic for the people and government's response

In a declaration the New Communist Party of the Netherlands (NCPN) and its youth wing, the Communist Youth Movement (CJB), refer to the rapid increase of Covid-19 cases in the country, the consequences of the new economic crisis and the response of the Dutch government which takes measures in order to safeguard the capital's interests.

The declaration reads:

The number of hospital admissions and deaths caused by the coronavirus is rising rapidly. Meanwhile, increasingly more people are feeling the consequences of the new economic crisis. Among workers, students, and pupils, there is a lot of uncertainty about the second wave and the economic crisis, as well as what this will mean for their job or education. The government, however, refuses to offer solutions and leaves everything to ‘individual responsibility’. Only big capital can count on the government for generous support.

Mass protests by trade unions throughout Greece: Struggle against anti-people measures and repression

Thousands of people participated in the nationwide demonstrations organized by trade unions affiliated with PAME in Athens, Thessaloniki and other Greek cities on Tuesday 13th October. 

 

Workers, self-employed people, unemployed men and women, students and pensioners sent a powerful message of unyielding collective struggle against anti-worker measures and repression. 

In Athens' Syntagma Square, thousands of protesters demanded protection measures for the people's lifes and rights, including the shielding of hospitals and the public health system, the need for hiring more teachers and cleaning staff in public schools, cheap and safe public transport, policies against unemployment and dismissals, collective agreements and strengthening of the labor rights.

Hands Off Polish communists! Demarche by KKE and KNE to the Embassy of Poland in Athens

On Monday 12th October, a delegation of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and its youth wing KNE, headed by Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos, MEP of the Party, visited the Embassy of Poland in Athens and held a protest in solidarity with the Communist Party of Poland and its newspaper “Bzrask”.

Both the CP of Poland and the editorial board of “Bzrask” have been the target of persecutions by the Polish authorities under the accusation of “publishing propaganda in favor of totalitarian regime”. The Katowice Court has announced that it will issue a decision on Tuesday 13th October 2020. 

International Communist Review held teleconference on Venezuela: Speech by PCV General Secretary Oscar Figuera

On the 9th of October, the International Communist Review (ICR) successfully organized a teleconference in solidarity with the Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV), the working class and the people of Venezuela. 

 

The teleconference was attended by representatives of the following parties-members of the ICR: Communist Party of Greece (KKE), Communist Workers Party of Spain (PCTE), Socialist Party of Latvia, Communist Party of Mexico (PCM), Hungarian Workers 'Party, Union of Communists of Ukraine, Communist Workers' Party of Russia Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) and the Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV). 

The participant parties adopted a resolution expressing their solidarity with the PCV and the Venezuelan people.