Greece: "Hands Off Social Security" — Large demonstrations held in Athens and other cities

"Hands Off Social Security Rights", that was the message that thousands of working men and women, pensioners, self-employed people, students sent during a large demonstration held earlier today in downtown Athens. 

The protests were organized by Trade Unions, Labour Centers and Pensioner's Associations. Among the speakers were Dimos Koumpouris, President of the Pensioner's Federation, Giorgos Stefanakis, President of the Trade Union of Catering-Tourism-Hotels of Attica and Dimitris Vitalis, member of the Federation of Craft Industry Unions of Athens. 

D. Koutsoumbas: "Solidarity to the heroic people of Cuba who fight to defend their homeland"

Three years have passed since the death of Fidel Castro on November 25, 2016. On this occasion, the memory and political legacy of the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution was honored on Saturday afternoon, during an event organized by "New Star cinema" in Athens, Greece.

Speeches about the life and polical activity of Fidel were delivered by the Ambassador of Cuba in Greece Zelmys Maria Dominguez Cortina and the Professor of Contemporary History at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Giorgos Margaritis. 

21st International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties: The opening speeches by Dimitris Koutsoumbas and Kemal Okuyan

The 21st International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties (IMCWP) kicked off today, Friday 18 October, in Izmir, with the participation of 75 Parties from 61 countries. 

The hosting Parties are the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) and the Communist Party of Greece (KKE). The meeting takes place between 18 and 20 of October.

Below, you can read the full transcripts of the opening speeches delivered by the General Secretaries Dimitris Koutsoumbas and Kemal Okuyan.

"We will never forget you": Greek communists paid tribute to the exiled heroes of Gyaros

"We never forget you. Glory and honor to the heroes of Gyaros". This was the major slogan of an extroardinary event that took place on Saturday 12 October in Gyaros, an unpopulated small Greek island in the Aegean Sea. 

The event, which was organized by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), included speeches as well as the unveiling of a monument, dedicated to the thousands of communists and leftist political dissidents who were exiled or imprisoned in Gyaros from 1948 until 1974. 

Greece: Thousands joined PAME strike rallies against government's anti-workers measures

Thousands of workers took part in today’s strike and strike demonstrations organized by the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) in Greece's major cities against the anti-workers’ measures of the government.

From the central strike rally in Athens, the militant Greek trade unions expressed their solidarity with the workers of France, who suffer the same attack on their working rights and lives and who also were on strike on the same day. 

KNE-Odigitis festival in Athens: Awe-inspiring political event addressed by D. Koutsoumbas

A speech by the General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Dimitris Koutsoumbas on Saturday evening marked the end of the three-day events of the 45th KNE-Odigitis festival in Athens. 

In a awe-inspiring political gathering, which attracted thousands of people of every age, Koutsoumbas sent a message of political resistance and counterattack, stressing out that "with our struggles, our dreams, our power, we can build a free world, open and full of hope, socialism". 

KKE-KNE pay farewell to popular songwriter and singer Lavrentis Macheritsas

"Another one great songwriter saddenly passed away, leaving us with the richness of his work", points out a statement of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) for the death of popular rock singer and songwriter Lavrentis Macheritsas. 

The KKE statement continues: "Like all these years, from his beginning until the time he "left", he accompanied us with his music and songs and he will continue accompany us in our small and great moments. Grandson of the executed - in April 1948 - militant Lavrentis Macheritsas from Volos, he was dynamically participating in the movement, with his music being his weapon. We will always remember his participation in the Festivals of KNE. In the electoral battles of our Party, with his support statements as well as his active participation, such as in 2006 when he was elected city councillor at the Municipality of Athens with the KKE's list". 

Thessaloniki Int'l Fair: Thousands joined PAME rally, sent powerful message to ND government

Thousands of workers, unemployed and self-employed people, farmers, women, students and pensioners participated in the large demonstration on Saturday afternoon, organized by the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) in Thessaloniki, Greece's second largest city. 

The protest was organized on the inauguration day of the city's 84th International Trade Fair by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Koutsoumbas to ND government: "Unfortunately for you, the KKE stands against your policies"

KKE General Secretary Dimitris Koutsoumbas (right) and 
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Speaking at Greece's Parliament during the new government's policy statements and discussion over confidence vote, the General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Dimitris Koutsoumbas unleashed a political attack against both the newly-elected conservative government of New Democracy (ND), as well as against the social democratic major opposition of SYRIZA.

Regarding New Democracy's government policy statements, Koutsoumbas said that these were already known from the pre-electoral period, adding that even the EU Commission had prepared her recommendations for Greece even before the formation of the government on July 8th. 

Thousands of young communists participated in the 28th anti-imperialist camp of KNE

KKE General Secretary Dimitris Koutsoumbas in
the political event in Karpenisi.

Thousands young men and women from every corner of Greece gathered between 12 and 14 of July, in Karpenisi, in Evrytania, in order to participate in the 28th anti-imperialist camp organized by the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE). 

The base for the camp was Kefalovriso, 3 km from the city of Karpenisi, a place which took its fame from the battle of August 1823 between the Greek revolutionaries and the Ottomans. 

Greece elections: Statement of the General Secretary of the KKE Dimitris Koutsoumbas

Statement of the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Dimitris Koutsoumbas shortly after the announcement of the result of the July 7th parliamentary elections:

"We thank all those who voted for the KKE and especially those who took the step for the first time. In addition we thank those who cooperated with the KKE in this election battle, participated in its lists, even if in the past they belonged to other political currents, continuing the similar mobilization that occurred also during the European elections. We salute the thousands of members, cadres, friends of the Party and KNE who gave their best to strengthen the KKE.

SYRIZA paved the way to New Democracy — Dimitris Koutsoumbas

KKE General Secretary Dimitris Koutsoumbas.

"The right-wing and conservative policy of SYRIZA's government paved the way to New Democracy and PASOK, it purified and resurrected them", said Dimitris Koutsoumbas, the General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), in his interview to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency, three days before the July 7th parliamentary elections.

Koutsoumbas points out "the leadership of SYRIZA has been recorded as a "sellout" to the unjust system, to Trump and the EU Commission" and adds that many people who did not submit themselves to the system draw conclusions and support the KKE. 

Massive electoral rally of the KKE in Athens sends message of struggle and hope!

Photo source: 902.gr.

Thousands of men and women of every age, workers, self-employed and unemployed people, students and pensioners gathered on Wednesday afternoon in Athens' Syntagma Square in order to attend the central electoral rally of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE). 

Holding red flags and shouting slogans, members and supporters of the Communist Party sent a powerful message of struggle and hope, just 4 days before the parliamentary elections of July 7th. Dimitris Koutsoumbas, the Party's General Secretary, was the major speaker. 

On July 7th we vote for the KKE: Large electoral rally by the Communist Party in Thessaloniki

Photo source: 902.gr.

Hundreds of people of every age, workers, students, men and women, gathered on Monday afternoon at the White Tower, the landmark of Thessaloniki, in order to attend the large pre-electoral rally of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), just six days before the July 7th general elections. 

"The only really valuable for the people vote is the one of the KKE" said Dimitris Koutsoumbas, the Party's General Secretary, addressing a sea of red flags in the city's promenade. 

Dimitris Koutsoumbas' interview on ANT1 News: On Turkey, Varoufakis and the July 7th elections

On Friday afternoon, the General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Dimitris Koutsoumbas gave an interview to anchor Nikos Chatzinikolaou and the news program of ANT1 TV. 

The General Secretary pointed out the need for the strengthening of the KKE in the upcoming general elections of July 7th, saying that the Communist Party is the only one that can prevent anti-people measures. He stated that the Party has immediate law proposals for the relief of the unemployed people, for lower salary at 751 euros, for the Social Insurance System and other issues related to the country's popular strata. 

"Farewell comrade" - Cyprus paid last respect to communist leader Demetris Christofias

Thousands of cypriots, men and women of every age, attended the funeral of the former President of Cyprus and long-time General Secretary of AKEL, Demetris Christofias, who died on Friday at the age of 72. 

The funeral, which took place in Strovolos, dictrict of Nicosia, was also attended by numerous officials, including the President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Anastasiades, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, members of the Cypriot government, as well as representatives of political parties from Cyprus and Greece. 

D. Koutsoumbas: "The KKE joins the battle for the general elections with greater determination and optimism"

On Sunday 2/6, the 2nd round of the local elections was completed in Greece. In Patras, the communist mayor Kostas Peletidis was reelected with 70.22% of the vote, while in the other 4 municipalities where the candidates of "People's Rally" took part in the 2nd round, despite the high vote percentage (Kaisariani-47.18%, Petroupoli-49.01%, Haidari-46.02%, Ikaria-42.82%), the election of a communist mayor was not achieved.

Dimitris Koutsoumbas: Statement on the results of the European and local elections of May 26th

In his statement to the mass media, Dimitris Koutsoumbas, General Secretary  of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) noted the following regarding the results for the elections for the European Parliament and local administration: 

“First of all we would like to thank all of those who responded to KKE's call to join forces with it. All of those who honored us, participating in the Party ballot, but also all those who under difficult conditions came to the ballot box and voted for the KKE in the European Parliament elections and for “People's Rally” in the municipal and regional elections. We would especially like to thank all those who took that step for the first time, for the young men and women who gave their very first vote to our Party.

European Elections 2019: KKE gets more than 250,000 votes, elects 2 deputies

Konstantinos Papadakis (upper photo) and Lefteris Nikolaou
are the two MEPs of the KKE.

According to the latest results given by the Greek Ministry of Interior, with 82% of the total electoral centers counted, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) gets 5.48% (252.912 votes) and elects 2 MEPs. 

The eurodeputies elected with the KKE are Kostantinos Papadakis and Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos. 

In yesterday's European elections, the conservative New Democracy (ND) got a comfortable lead (9.5%) over ruling social democratic SYRIZA. According to the latest results, ND gets 33.23% of the votes and elects 7 MEPs, while SYRIZA gets 23.79% and elects 6 MEPs. The center left KINAL (formerly PASOK) party gets 7.61% and elects 2 eurodeputies. 

Athens turned red: Massive rally of the KKE sends message of hope and struggle (Photos)

A really massive and vivid rally of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) took place on Wednesday afternoon in central Athens, just 4 days before the double European and local elections of May 26th. 

Thousands of workers, young men and women, people of every age created a "red river" at Syntagma Square, sending a message of hope and struggle. 

The major speaker at the event was the KKE's General Secretary Dimitris Koutsoumbas. The rally was attended by a delegation of the Communist Party, Italy (PC) headed by the General Secretary Marco Rizzo who delivered a greeting message.