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.

KKE Europarliament group asks for the restoration of the Parthenon Marbles

With a question to the European Commission the EU Parliament Group of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) asks the full and permanent restitution of the 2,500 year-old Parthenon Marbles, also known as the "Elgin Marbles", which were removed from the Athens Acropolis by British diplomat Lord Elgin in the early 19th century.

As 902 portal reports, the question submitted by KKE MEP Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos reads: 

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.

WFTU 75th anniversary was honored in Athens

With a meeting of trade unionists and workers of the industry unions of Athens on October 2nd, the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) honored the 75th founding anniversary of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU). 

The meeting was attended by George Mavrikos, General Secretary of the WFTU, who delivered a speech. 

Giota Tavoulari, President of the National Federation of Workers in Pharmaceutical Industries and Babis Vortelinos, TUI Public Services Vice President, delivered speeches on behalf of Greek Trade Unions.

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.

Pompeo Go Home! Militant rally in Thessaloniki against the visit of the U.S Secretary of State

On Monday 28 September, thousands of people protested in Thessaloniki, Greece's largest city, against the visit of the U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Workers, students, trade unionists, members of the anti-imperialist movement and the Committee for International Detente and Peace (EDYETH) marched in the city center, expressing their strong opposition to the deeper involvement of Greece in the dangerous U.S.-NATO plans in the region. 

Statement of the KKE on US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visit to Greece

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is due to visit Greece on September 28-30. 

According to the State Department’s official press statement, “Secretary Pompeo will meet with Prime Minister Mitsotakis and Foreign Minister Dendias to renew our shared commitment to advance security, peace, and prosperity in the Eastern Mediterranean and celebrate the strongest U.S.-Greek relationship in decades. In Thessaloniki, the Secretary will sign a bilateral science and technology agreement, as well as host energy sector business leaders for a discussion to highlight energy diversification and infrastructure projects in Greece.  In Crete, the Secretary will visit Naval Support Activity Souda Bay to underscore the strong U.S. security partnership with NATO Ally Greece.”

Communist Party of Greece: Statement of the CC on national and international developments

Statement by the Central Committee of the KKE on national and international developments

1. The Central Committee of the KKE met on Monday, September 7, 2020, and examined the tasks and actions of the Party and the KNE under these complex and difficult conditions for the people, formed by the course of international and national developments. These developments are defined by:

The further escalation of the intra-imperialist competitions in the Eastern Mediterranean region, which include the contradictions of the bourgeois classes of Greece and Turkey and the escalation of Turkish aggression.

The course and outbreak of the pandemic in our country and internationally, the tragic situation in public health systems, the consequences of the pandemic on the life and the rights of the working class and the popular strata, as a result of anti-popular policies and measures.

Golden Dawn Trial: The Nazi criminals must be punished!

The 18^th of September 2020 marked the 7^th anniversary since the brutal murder of anti-fascist musician Pavlos Fyssas by members of the criminal, neo-Nazi Golden Dawn gang. Just a few days before Fyssas’ murder in Piraeus, the Nazis had unleashed murderous attacks against immigrants and trade unionists belonging to the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME).

On the 7^th anniversary since Fyssas’ murder, hundreds of people marched in Athens demanding the punishment of Golden Dawn’s criminals.

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

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. 

Communist Youth of Greece (KNE): The Nobel Peace Prize must be awarded to Cuban doctors!

The Communist Youth of Greece (KNE), the youth wing of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), expresses its support to the campaign that requests the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize to be given to Cuba’s “Henry Reeve International Medical Brigade”. 

A statement issued by the Press Bureau of the Central Council of KNE points out the following:

“Cuba, with a population of 11 million, blocked for more than 60 years by the criminal embargo of the U.S. and targeted by EU’s multiform interventions, sends once again a powerful message of solidarity and humanitarianism! 

"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."

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. 

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,

Fire destroys Moria refugee camp in Greece — Statements by KKE and PAME

A large fire has destroyed Greece's largest refugee concentration camp in Moria, Lesbos. About 25 firefighters and 10 engines battled the flames as migrants were evacuated. 

Moria was home to nearly 13,000 refugees and migrants, which is more than four times the number the camp can officially hold. 

In a statement published in 902 portal, the Press Bureau of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) demands the immediate closing of Moria urging the authorities to proceed to the relocation of the refugees-migrants to safe places, under all the necessary measures of health protection, in mainland Greece. 

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. 

KKE: NATO promotes dangerous settlements in East Mediterranean, fosters Turkey's aggression

In a statement issued today, the Press Bureau of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) comments on the announcement made by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg that he had brokered a Greek-Turkish agreement to begin 'technical talks' on "establishing deconfliction mechanisms" in the Eastern Mediterranean. 

The statement of the KKE is as follows:

KKE backs campaign seeking Nobel Peace Prize for the Cuban medical brigades

The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) has endorsed the campaign which requests that the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize must be awarded to the “Henry Reeve” Cuban Medical Brigade for its internationalist activity. 

Giannis Giokas, KKE MP and Secretary of the Greece-Cuba Friendship Group of the Parliament, has sent a letter to the Group’s members asking them to provide their support to cause. 

KKE: Turkey’s aggression in East Mediterranean is fostered by the U.S, NATO and EU

The situation in eastern Mediterranean and the tensions between Turkey and Greece was one of the major issues discussed during the extraordinary EU Foreign Ministers Council which was concluded on Friday. Earlier, Greece’s Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias met with the U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Vienna.  

Referring to his meeting with Pompeo, Dendias expressed his satisfaction for the “clear stance of the State Department” against Turkey’s provocations, thanking the U.S. Secretary of State on behalf of the Greek government. He also expressed satisfaction for the EU partners’ “support to Greece and Cyprus”. 

Nobel Peace Prize 2021 to Cuban doctors: Joint statement by Greek and Turkish friends of Cuba

While the bourgeois classes of Turkey and Greece, alongside their imperialist "allies" U.S-NATO-EU, have turned East Mediterranean into a region of continuous conflict for the interests of their monopolies, the friends and supporters of Cuba in both sides of the Aegean Sea send a message of solidarity and co-operation. 

In a joint statement, on the occasion of Fidel Castro's 94th birth anniversary on August 13th, the Greek Team for the Nobel Peace Prize to Cuban Doctors and the Jose Marti Cuba-Turkey Friendship Association point out that the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize must be awarded to the "Henry Reeve" Medical Brigade for its long-time internationalist activity as well as during its significant contribution to the fight against the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.