Communist Party of Poland condemns reactionary and ahistorical court decision ratifying its ban

The anti-communist decision to ban the Communist Party of Poland (KPP), which had been adopted by Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal on 3 December, was ratified by the Warsaw Court at its session on 15 December.

The decision to remove the party from the official register of political parties has now been formally communicated to the Communist Party of Poland, which issued the following statement condemning this ahistorical and reactionary ruling:

ALERT: Poland’s Constitutional Court bans Communist Party — Democracy under attack!

Today the Constitutional Tribunal of Poland issued a ruling declaring the Communist Party of Poland (KPP) unconstitutional and illegal, ordering its removal from the register of political parties. 

The Tribunal’s decision follows a formal petition by the ultra-conservative Polish President Karol Nawrocki and finds that the aims and activities of the party violate the national constitution. The ruling effectively criminalizes the legitimate political activity of an established communist formation.

KKE: Hands Off the Communists of Poland — Protest at the Embassy of Poland in Athens

On 17/03/23, a delegation of the International Relations Section of the CC of the KKE, led by the Party’s MEP Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos, made a demarche to the Polish Embassy in Athens, protesting against the escalation of the criminalization of communist ideology and action by the Polish government through the vehicle of the recent revision of the Criminal Code, which is due to be activated in the coming months.

In Solidarity with the Communist Party of Poland and Against Escalating Anti-Communism!

The Communist Party of Sweden (SKP) condemns the anti-communist and anti-democratic legislative changes which are set to enter into force in Poland on March 14. 

 

With the impending changes to the penal code, promoting a communist “totalitarian state system” will be punishable by up to three years in prison, and the same will apply to the spreading, selling or possession of texts or other material, or the carrying of communist symbols, with the same aforementioned aim of promoting communism. In addition, the new legislation equates communism with nazism and fascism. 

KKE: Démarche against the attempt to ban the Communist Party of Poland

The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) made a démarche to the European Commission representation in Athens and the Polish embassy in Athens, against the new attempt to ban the Communist Party of Poland at the request of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the Polish government. 

In the démarche delivered by the KKE MEP Kostas Papadakis to the European Commission, it is noted: "The attempt of the Polish government to ban the CP of Poland as well as the methodical distortion of history are unacceptable. The EU also bears huge responsibilities, since the equation of the fascists - Nazis in the past and the present with those who fought against Nazism is an EU direction contained in anti-communist resolutions and declarations. This is a stance that encourages the action of the fascist-Nazi criminal formations". 

Polish government's plan to outlaw the Communist Party shall not pass!

By Nikos Mottas.

It's been a long time since Poland, under the far-right government of Andrzej Duda, is driven into a very dangerous, anti-democratic path. With the EU's tolerance, or even encouragement, the authorities of Poland have unleased a persistent “witch-hunt” against the country's communists.

We have many times referred to the persecutions and legal proceedings against the Communist Party (KPP) and its newspaper “Bzrask”. Communist and Workers' Parties across Europe and the world, such as the KKE, have undertaken numerous initiatives in the international forums (e.g. EU Parliament) about these anti-communist persecutions and restrictions imposed by the Polish government. 

Hands Off Polish communists! Demarche by KKE and KNE to the Embassy of Poland in Athens

On Monday 12th October, a delegation of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and its youth wing KNE, headed by Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos, MEP of the Party, visited the Embassy of Poland in Athens and held a protest in solidarity with the Communist Party of Poland and its newspaper “Bzrask”.

Both the CP of Poland and the editorial board of “Bzrask” have been the target of persecutions by the Polish authorities under the accusation of “publishing propaganda in favor of totalitarian regime”. The Katowice Court has announced that it will issue a decision on Tuesday 13th October 2020. 

Poland: The legal struggle of the Communist Party continues, as Court imposes fine

The legal struggle of the Communist Party of Poland and its newspaper "Brzask" continues, with a new verdict issued by the a District Court imposing a fine. 

Here is a statement by the Party's President Krzysztof Szwej:

On March 17, the new verdict was announced regarding the long trial of the editors of "Brzask", the newspaper of the Communist Party of Poland and its website accused of promoting a totalitarian state system.

Hands Off the Communists of Poland: Protests across the world against persecutions in Poland

Protest at the Embassy of Poland in Athens. Source: 902.gr

With a protest at the Embassy of Poland in Athens, members of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and its youth wing KNE expressed their solidarity to the persecuted cadres of the Communist Party of Poland (KPP) and the editors of “Brzask” newspaper. 

With a banner reading “Hands Off The Communists Of Poland”, the KKE-KNE members gathered outside the Embassy, demanding the ending of the persecutions that the Polish authorities have unleashed against the country’s communists. KKE MEP Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos and Paschalis Kagiannis, member of the CC of KNE, met with the Embassy’s minister councillor Jolanta Wójcik-Niedzielska handing over to her a note of protest.