Interview of the General Secretary of the KKE Dimitris Koutsoumbas to "Riktpunkt"

During his recent visit to Sweden, the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), Dimitris Koutsoumbas, gave an in-depth interview to Riktpunkt, the official newspaper of the Communist Party of Sweden (SKP).

In the interview, conducted by Riktpunkt's Josef Brant, Koutsoumbas addresses a wide range of issues of international and domestic importance: developments within the Greek workers’ movement, the political role of KKE, imperialist war and militarization, the European Union, NATO, social democracy, fascism, and debates within the international communist movement.

 

The Communist Party as the organizer and leader of the people’s struggle for the cause of workers’ power in the 21st century

By Dimitris Koutsoumbas 

On the basis of our world view and our constitutional principles, the Communist Party is the Party of the working class, its conscious and organized ideological and political vanguard, its supreme form of organization. 

It is a revolutionary organization of like-minded volunteers and fights for the overthrow of capitalism and the building of the socialist–communist society, in which all exploitation of man by man and all forms of private ownership of the means of production will be abolished and a higher standard of living and rights for the people, equality of opportunities and rights, all-round social progress will be guaranteed.

Greek farmers rise up and the KKE stands by their side

Photo: Eurokinissi

The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) has taken a clear, decisive position in support of the escalating struggle of poor farmers across the country. 

 

With a series of on-site visits to the roadblocks in Larissa, Karditsa, Trikala, Tirnavos and other areas, the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the KKE, Dimitris Koutsoumbas, conveyed the Party’s full solidarity and its commitment to stand at the side of those fighting for their survival.

 

The era of capitalism's overthrow began with October 1917: Major internationalist event organized by the KKE

A major internationalist event was held at the headquarters of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) in Athens to commemorate the 108th anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution. 

The gathering was organized under the central theme: “Relevant messages of the October Revolution in our contemporary struggle for socialism and in conditions of imperialist war,” bringing together a large audience and representatives of 25 communist and workers’ parties from across the world.

KKE - SKP: Communists of Greece and Sweden coordinate struggle as capitalist offensive escalates

Photo: 902.gr

In a warm and deeply comradely atmosphere, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), Dimitris Koutsoumbas, held a meeting on Friday afternoon with a delegation of the Communist Party of Sweden (SKP) at the party’s offices in Skarpnäck, Stockholm. The Swedish delegation was headed by the leader of SKP, Andreas Sörensen.

From the side of the KKE, the meeting was attended by Zisis Lymberidis, member of the Central Committee and head of the Party’s Foreign Committee; Kostas Papadakis, member of the Central Committee and Member of the European Parliament; Panos Apergis, Secretary of the KKE’s Scandinavia Regional Organisation; and Vasilis Lazaridis, Secretary of the Stockholm Local Organisation.

KKE's leader Koutsoumbas: "The challenge is not to manage capitalism, but to abolish it"

In a comprehensive interview with ERTNews television on Monday, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Dimitris Koutsoumbas declared that the Party “stands strong, ready for everything — ready to answer the call of history for socialism.” 

Koutsoumbas portrayed the current situation in Greece as one of intensified class confrontation. He stressed that the government’s policies continue to burden workers, small farmers, and the popular strata, perpetuating inequalities under new forms of austerity. 

 

Greek workers: We refuse to become slaves in the 21st century!

On 14 October 2025, the day that parliament debated on the anti-labour bill providing for 13-hour workdays, a new 24-hour general strike took place in Greece, for the second time in 15 days.

The strike was called by 38 Labour Centres, which are local trade union associations, including those in the largest Greek cities (Athens, Thessaloniki, Piraeus, Patras, etc), as well as 18 sectoral trade union federations. 

 

KKE leader Koutsoumbas meets Palestinian Foreign Minister, reiterates unwavering solidarity

Dimitris Koutsoumbas, the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), reaffirmed the party’s steadfast solidarity with the Palestinian people during a meeting with the Foreign Minister of the Palestinian Authority, Varsen Aghapekian Sahin.

The meeting took place at the Embassy of Palestine in Athens and was attended by KKE representatives, including Politburo Member and MP Giorgos Marinos as well as Elias Nasir from the Party’s International Relations Section.

 

“The Spark Will Become a Fire”: KNE Festival in Athens Draws Mass Crowds, Sends Message of Struggle

Under a sky lit by flares and smoke, the 51st KNE-Odigitis Festival unfolded in Athens' Tritsis Park, drawing tens of thousands of young people and workers. 

The park transformed into a crimson citadel of defiance, echoing the Festival’s resounding slogan: “The spark will become a fire — with KKE strong, steadfast in every trial, ready at the call of History, for socialism.” For four days, Tritsis Park became a living “red city.” KNE’s organizations from every region marched in with banners, chants, and raised fists. 

KKE General Secretary: The danger of a generalized imperialist war is growing

Political speeches, discussions, and concerts continue throughout the country as part of the 51^st Festival of KNE -“Odigitis”. Dimitris Koutsoumbas, General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), attended the events of the 51^st Festival of KNE -“Odigitis” in Livadia, and made the following statement:

“We are in a very difficult phase as a people and as a country. We need to be as ready and mobilized as possible, because the government is constantly introducing new anti-labour and anti-people measures, starting with this monstrosity of a law that allows a 13-hour working day that will exhaust the people and workers.

KKE's leader Koutsoumbas: "The truly new productive model is the workers' power and socialism"

In a speech yesterday, 11/9, at the 89th Thessaloniki International Fair, the General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Dimitris Koutsoumbas, stressed that a truly new productive model is only possible through the radically different path of development proposed by the KKE.

"And this is the road of abolishing capitalist ownership and voracious profit. It is the road of workers' power, of a people's government, of socialism," he said.

 

KKE leader reaffirms solidarity with the Palestinian people, calls government to cut ties with Israel

"It is unacceptable for the Greek government to support the genocide and starvation of the Palestinian people by supporting a war criminal along with its allies. It must stop now, immediately, and cease all cooperation with this murderous state. A free Palestinian state within the 1967 borders must be recognized, based on the unanimous decision of the Greek Parliament in 2015", Dimitris Koutsoumbas, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), stated during a rally held on Sunday 25 August in Athens.

 

KKE blasts Greek government's despicable attempt to suppress popular protests against Israel’s crimes

KKE MP C. Katsotis holding a photo of a malnourished child in Gaza.

The New Democracy government is escalating its attacks on and repression of popular protests denouncing Israeli crimes in Gaza and the West Bank. These protests express solidarity with the Palestinian people and demand an end to all support from the Greek government for the murderous state of Israel as well as an end to all relations with it (military, political and economic).

It has even gone so far as to activate the anti-racism law, which confirms the KKE’s warnings that, once voted in Parliament, it would ultimately turn against the people and their movement.

 

Funeral of Ammar Bakdash, long-time leader of the Syrian Communist Party, was held in Athens

On Wednesday 23 July, the political funeral of comrade Ammar Bakdash, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Syrian Communist Party, took place at the Kaisariani Cemetery in Athens. Comrade Bakdash had come to Athens after being persecuted by the criminal regime of the jihadists in Syria.

A large delegation from the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Greece, a delegation from the Central Council of the Communist Youth of Greece, and a delegation from the Syrian Communist Party attended the ceremony.

The KKE on the issue of refugees and migrants

Speaking during a relevant debate in the Greek Parliament concerning the ongoing migrant-refugee crisis in the Mediterranean, the General Secretary of the KKE, Dimitris Koutsoumbas, said:

“According to the latest annual report by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the number of forcibly displaced people worldwide has reached 122.1 million. This figure that has doubled in the last decade due to an increase in armed conflicts, which have reached their highest level since World War II". 

Dimitris Koutsoumbas: The people and the youth must have confidence in their own struggle, with the KKE by their side!

Dimitris Koutsoumbas, GS of the CC of the KKE, spoke at the large political rally in Patras, which was the culmination of the events of the 34^th Anti-Imperialist Camp of KNE.

Thousands of young people also chanted together ‘Freedom for Palestine’ and ‘The imperialists are redividing the world, drawing borders with the blood of the peoples’, sending a message of internationalist solidarity to all the people that are rising up and fighting for their freedom against capitalist barbarity.

KKE's leader Koutsoumbas calls Greek government to end "all military cooperation with Israel"

"The developments in our region are critical! The murderous state of Israel, with its attack against Iran and backed by the USA, NATO, and the EU, has lit the fuse of war, with the danger of escalation across the entire region clearly visible," said the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), Dimitris Koutsoumbas, on Monday.   

 

Furthermore, the General Secretary added: 

 

KKE's leader Koutsoumbas: Greece must immediately recognize a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders

In the face of dramatic situation experienced by the Palestinian people due to the brutality of the Israeli state, the General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and President of the Party's Parliamentary Group, Dimitris Koutsoumbas, sent a letter today to the leaders of the opposition Parties.

The letter proposes the creation of a joint draft text that will be addressed to the Greek government urging it to take - also in its capacity as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council - relevant initiatives on the following issues:

KKE: 80 years since the Great Anti-fascist Victory of the Peoples - Its conclusions and significance today

Opening speech by Dimitris Koutsoumbas, GS of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), at the hybrid meeting of the European Communist Action, held in Berlin on 9 May 2025 under the subject “80 years since the Great Anti-fascist Victory of the Peoples.  Its conclusions and significance today”:

Dear comrades,

KKE's General Secretary concludes visit to Germany

KKE event in Berlin

Dimitris Koutsoumbas, the General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) concluded his visit to Germany on Sunday 11/5 with a speech in Stuttgart. 

 

The event, organized by the Communist Youth (KNE) organization, was held at Clara Zetkin Haus and was attended by numerous workers, members, supporters and friends of the Party.