The festival, which is traveling in many Greek cities throughout July and August, includes numerous political and cultural events.
The festival, which is traveling in many Greek cities throughout July and August, includes numerous political and cultural events.
The statement stresses, among other things, that the electoral reinforcement of the KKE is not circumstantial but an indicator of the rise of the prestige that the Party has gained among the working class and the entire people, by leading emblematic struggles and demonstrations.
“Only a strong KKE can strengthen the genuine 100% militant people’s opposition against the omnipotence of the policy of capital, against the New Democracy government, against the ‘opposition ministry’ of SYRIZA-PASOK and all the parties of the system. This is the only way to create cracks within this negative correlation of forces.”
The above quote from the speech of Dimitris Koutsoumbas, General Secretary of the CC of the KKE, in the large pre-election rally in Athens summarizes the whole significance of Sunday's parliamentary elections in Greece.
"Dear comrades,
The Workers Party of Ireland sends warm comradely greetings to the Communist Party of Greece and sends its best wishes, solidarity and support to the KKE for the elections next Sunday.
“The mass red rally of the people and youth here in Athens confirms that the positive step taken in May can now become a leap forward” stressed Dimitris Koutsoumbas.
Being by far the largest political gathering of all parties ahead of June 25th parliamentary elections, the pre-election rally of the KKE sent a resounding, hopeful message of unwavering struggle, for a 100% militant, popular opposition against the next anti-people government of New Democracy (ND) party.
In his speech, Dimitris Koutsoumbas stressed the following:
“Another crime that was bound to happen, the shipwreck off Pylos that continues to shock us all, was carried out a few days ago. The KKE is once again at the forefront of the struggle and clearly states that, despite the decay and cynicism of all the voices of the system, there is the choice of action and organized struggle against barbarity.
More specifically, the MEPs of the KKE point out in their letter:
"Mrs President,
Furthermore, the Party's General Secretary Dimitris Koutsoumbas made an emergency visit to Kalamata, while members of the KKE and its youth wing, KNE, proceeded to protests in Athens, Thessaloniki and other cities. Demonstrations are also scheduled for today throughout the country.
The acute problems faced by the minority in Thrace have the same cause as those faced by the entire Greek people; therefore the struggle must be joint within the framework of the labour and popular movement.
Unacceptable reinforcement of NATO’s presence - Greek forces must withdraw immediately
Nowadays, there is a sharpening conflict of imperialist interests in various regions of the world, including the Balkans, where the situation formed by Euro-Atlantic intervention, NATO bombings and the break-up of Yugoslavia in the 1990s remains a festering wound.
“The optimistic message of these elections —without, of course, overlooking the overall negative correlation of forces— is the significant strengthening of the KKE, which won 7.23%, 427,000 votes, and 26 MPs, taking third place in Attica again, this time achieving double-digit percentages in the working class–popular neighborhoods and an increase in all regions nationwide”, noted the GS of the CC of KKE.
ON THE RESULTS OF THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS OF 21 MAY 2023
1. The CC hails the thousands of KKE and KNE members, supporters, individuals who cooperate with the Party and voters who contributed to the electoral battle of the KKE.
We especially hail those who took the step for the first time, the young people who casted their first vote in favour of our Party.
"There is today but one dilemma: Either you give consent to the support of the government's anti-popular policies or you support the only true opposition from the point of view of working-class, popular interests," the General Secretary said, urging voters to further strengthen KKE in the upcoming elections on June 25.
Ikaria, or Icaria, is a relatively small island in the Aegean Sea, approximately 20 km southwest of Samos. According to Greek mythology, its name derives from Icarus, son of Daedalus, who fell in the sea because he “flew too close to the sun”.
Apart from its rich history, beautiful villages, friendly people and notorious summer feasts, Ikaria is also known as Greece's “red island”. The results of the recent parliamentary elections of May 21, 2023, came to confirm the tradition, according to which Ikaria is a stronghold of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE).
The right-wing party of New Democracy (40.79%) prevailed in the elections, while the parties of the new social democracy, that is SYRIZA (20.07%) and MeRA25 (2.62%), which did not cross the 3% threshold, recorded a significant decline. The oldest party of social democracy, PASOK (11.46%), was strengthened, while the nationalist party Hellenic Solution (4.45%) was reelected. You can find the detailed results here: https://inter.kke.gr/en/articles/Significant-rise-of-the-KKE-a-hopeful-message-for-the-people/
“On behalf of the CC of the KKE, we salute the thousands of workers and young people who took this step today and voted for the KKE, resulting in its considerable rise.
We want to congratulate the thousands of members and cadres of the KKE and KNE who gave their best, contributing to this election result.
Under the slogan "Only the people can save the people, with the KKE at the forefront!", thousands of workers, men and women of every age participated in the largest pre-election rally this year.
An excerpt from his speech reads as follows:
“During this pre-election period, an optimistic message is emerging from all over Greece: There are many more people, who, with a clearer mind, draw broader conclusions; who understand that what we have experienced, especially in recent years, was not accidental.