Showing posts with label Dimitris Koutsoumbas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dimitris Koutsoumbas. Show all posts

Saturday, April 24, 2021

Dimitris Koutsoumbas on Armenian Genocide Memorial Day

In a statement for the Armenian Genocide Memorial Day, observed on April 24th , 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.

Wednesday, April 7, 2021

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.

Sunday, March 14, 2021

Interview of the General Secretary of the KKE Dimitris Koutsoumbas in "Kontra News" newspaper

Dimitris Koutsoumbas, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), gave an interview in the Sunday edition (14 March 2021) of "Kontra News" newspaper. 

The communist leader refers to the current political situation in Greece, the policy of New Democracy (ND) government during the Pandemic, Greece's Left political forces and the stance of the KKE. 

 Below, you can read a translated version of the interview:

Thursday, January 7, 2021

KKE General Secretary Koutsoumbas on U.S. Capitol events: The mirror of a society in deep decay

Commenting on the events in the United States and the storming of Capitol by pro-Trump supporters, the General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Dimitris Koutsoumbas said:

“The incidents in Washington DC and the planned invasion of far-right, reactionary forces in the Capitol, cannot be solely explained by Trump's idiosyncrasy. It is the mirror of a society in deep decay, a world of massive competitions,  realignments in the correlation of power, crises and impasses, whose consequences are paid by the people and which are now becoming more apparent, even in the most powerful capitalist country in the world.

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

KKE: Greek government's 2021 state budget is a "monument of unpopularity"

The 2021 state budget submitted by the conservative New Democracy (ND) government is a "monument of unpopularity against the working people", said the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Dimitris Koutsoumbas during a speech in the Parliament. 

Koutsoumbas strongly denounced the policies of the government during the pandemic, adding that the measures announced aim at strengthening the capital at the expense of the workers and people's rights. The KKE General Secretary pointed out that ND, opposition party SYRIZA and all the other bourgeois parties in the parliament are "strategically aligned" in the same policy, despite minor differences. 

Sunday, December 13, 2020

EU's stance is a 'green light' for Turkish aggression: Statement by KKE General Secretary Dimitris Koutsoumbas

The outcome of the recent EU Council and its failure to adopt sanctions against Turkey was sharply criticized by the Communist Party of Greece (KKE). After hours of decisions, the EU leaders proceeded to the usual verbal condemnations of Ankara's aggression in Eastern Mediterranean but deferred decisions on trade tariffs or arms embargo until they have consultations with the US President-elect Joe Biden and his administration. 

In Athens, the General Secretary of the CC of the KKE Dimitris Koutsoumbas made the following statement:

Monday, December 7, 2020

Greece: New orgy of governmental authoritarianism and police repression — Statement by KKE leader Dimitris Koutsoumbas

Almost 20 days after the brutal attack of Greek police against a peaceful KKE rally on November 17th, another orgy of police repression and violence took place earlier today in Athens, on the 12th anniversary of the murder of 15 year-old Alexis Grigoropoulos by a special police officer. 

Grigoropoulos had been murdered by special police officer Epaminondas Korkoneas on December 6, 2008. Korkoneas had been convicted to life sentense. However, in 2019, a court reduced his term to just 13 years and, on the basis of the new legal code introduced by the then SYRIZA government, he was ultimately released from prison on July 2019! 

Tuesday, November 10, 2020

Lockdown capitalist policies! KKE slams Greek government's handling of the pandemic

Since November 7th Greece has entered a second nationwide lockdown, following a decision by the conservative New Democracy (ND) government. The lockdown is accompanied by tough penalties for violations of the quarantine and non-observance of social distancing. 

Alongside the lockdown, as the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) mentions, the government has committed crimes against the people's health and safety in order to serve the interests of the capital in a number of industry branches. 

Sunday, November 8, 2020

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:

Wednesday, October 14, 2020

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.

Thursday, October 8, 2020

Dimitris Koutsoumbas on Golden Dawn verdict: "The people must overthrow the system that generates Nazism-Fascism"

The Athens Court of Appeals on Wednesday delivered a historic guilty verdict for the leaders and members of the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn, finding that they had run Golden Dawn as a criminal organization.  

In a unanimous ruling, Greek justice ruled that Golden Dawn was a criminal organization "wearing the cloak of a political party," in accordance with the indictment in the case.

The court also found the defendant Golden Dawn member, Giorgos Roupakias, guilty of all charges for the murder of anti-fascist musician Pavlos Fyssas and another 15 defendants in the case guilty of acting as accomplices, while acquitting two due to reasonable doubt.

Sunday, October 4, 2020

Golden Dawn Trial: "They aren't innocent — Nazis in prison!"

Wednesday 7th October 2020 is going to be a historic day for the world's anti-fascist movement. On that day, at 11 am local hour, the Athens Criminal Appeals Court is going to announce the verdict in the trial of the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party – a trial which began in March 2015.

With its ruling the court is called on to decide whether the accused (a total of 69 defendants, including 18 ex-Parliament members) are guilty or not guilty of forming a criminal organization. Based on the evidence presented in the court it is beyond doubt that Golden Dawn – which was elected to the Greek and EU Parliaments in three separate elections - has been a criminal organization that had the legal form of a party enjoying, as a result of that, enhanced constitutional protection.

Sunday, September 20, 2020

"Socialism, for life to win!": KNE-Odigitis Festival successfully concludes in Athens

Dimitris Koutsoumbas during his speech (Photo: 902.gr)
This year’s 
KNE-Odigitis Festival was a very special one, due to the extraordinary circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic. But the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE) managed to organize a successful festival which, once again, gave a militant message of struggle and hope. 

Under the major slogan “Socialism, for us to breathe freely, for life to win”, the three-day events of the 46th KNE-Odigitis festival at the University Campus of Zografou in Athens concluded with a speech by the General Secretary of the CC of the KKE Dimitris Koutsoumbas and a concert dedicated to composer Thanos Mikroutsikos. 

Monday, September 14, 2020

"Long live the joint struggle of the KKE and the TKP!" — Message by Dimitris Koutsoumbas

Recently, the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) celebrated the 100th anniversary of its foundation, while a few weeks earlier it held its 13th congress, under difficult conditions. The CC of the KKE in its message to the 13th Congress of TKP noted, among other things:

"The communists of Turkey, honoring the 100th anniversary of the founding of the heroic Communist Party of Turkey, can take further steps. Turkey, but also the whole region of the Eastern Mediterranean and the Balkans, need an even stronger Communist Party of Turkey, a 'revolutionary party, a party for revolution', as is the slogan of your 13th congress."

Sunday, September 13, 2020

Greece: Large militant demonstration by PAME and Trade Unions in Thessaloniki

Photo: 902.gr
Under the slogan “We paid a lot – We shall not pay again”, thousands of workers, self-employed and unemployed people, farmers, women and students participated on Saturday 12th September at the large demonstration organized by the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) and Trade Unions, on the occasion of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ speech at the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF).

Behind the banners of the Trade Unions, Labor Centers and Federations, protesters from Thessaloniki and the broader region sent a militant message to the anti-people, anti-worker attack of the conservative New Democracy (ND) government. 

Thursday, September 10, 2020

Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) awards KKE General Secretary Dimitris Koutsoumbas

The Central Committee of Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) has awarded Dimitris Koutsoumbas, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Greece, with TKP Mustafa Suphi Friendship Award on the 100th anniversary of TKP's foundation.

As soL news reports, TKP announced the award with a letter written by the Central Committee. The letter is as follows:

Dear comrades,

Monday, September 7, 2020

Makronissos, the “Greek Dachau”: Great event by the KKE in honor of political prisoners

In a deeply emotional event held on Sunday, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) paid tribute to the thousands of communists and other militants-political prisoners who suffered in Greece’s “Dachau” – the concentration camp of the island of Makronissos. 

The Central Committee organized the event on the occasion of the presentation of a monument, created by sculptor Markos Georgilakis, which is dedicated to all those who were imprisoned in Makronissos by the bourgeois state between 1947 and 1974. It was an act of remembrance and honor to those who teached bravery and endurance, despite the unspeakable difficulties they faced. 

Sunday, July 19, 2020

29th Anti-imperialist camp of KNE: Thousands of young communists sent message of struggle

Source: 902.gr
Thousands of young men and women sent a powerful message of class struggle during the 29th Anti-imperialist Camp of the Communist Youth of Greece (KKE) which was held in Stomio, Thessaly, on July 17-19th. 

The 2-day camp concluded on Saturday evening with a major political event where Dimitris Koutsoumbas, the General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), delivered a speech. 

Thursday, June 11, 2020

Capitalism is the virus: Large workers' rally by PAME and Trade Unions in Athens

Under the slogans “Take a breathe. Break the chains of exploitation” and “Poverty, unemployment and authoritarianism: Capitalism is the virus” thousands of people, workers, students, young men and women participated in a large rally organized by the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME), Trade Unions and Labour Centers in Athens, Greece.

The rally was organized as a response to the anti-worker attack of the conservative ND government which tries, once again, to shift the burden of the new economic crisis to the people. 

Saturday, June 6, 2020

Dimitris Koutsoumbas on U.S. protests: "The myth of the American Dream is collapsing"

In an interview with CNN Greece, the General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Dimitris Koutsoumbas commented, among other things, about the mass protests in the U.S. following the murder of George Floyd:
“The murder of African American Floyd by a white police officer was the trigger for the outburst of popular outrage that had been simmering. Alongside state violence, this outbreak is affected by other factors, such as the 100,000 deaths due to Coronavirus – with most victims belonging to the poor popular strata who had no access to health facilities – as well as the burgeoning of unemployment and poverty.