European Communist Initiative: The pandemic reveals the criminal inadequacy of health systems in all capitalist states

Statement by the European Initiative of Communist and Workers' Parties on the new outbreak of the pandemic:

The new outbreak of the pandemic throughout Europe is a reality that did not come out of thin air. The claims of the bourgeois governments that they “took measures” and “shielded the public health systems” after the first wave of the pandemic, as well as that “in the course of the pandemic the EU wised up and stands in solidarity with the peoples”, are myths.

Following the new wave of the pandemic, all these claims are day by day revealed and bankrupt. The increase in deaths, cases, and intubated patients reveals the responsibility of the EU and the government directions over time, which left the public health systems destitute of staff, infrastructure, ICUs, reagents, and tests.

New Communist Party of the Netherlands: The consequences of the pandemic for the people and government's response

In a declaration the New Communist Party of the Netherlands (NCPN) and its youth wing, the Communist Youth Movement (CJB), refer to the rapid increase of Covid-19 cases in the country, the consequences of the new economic crisis and the response of the Dutch government which takes measures in order to safeguard the capital's interests.

The declaration reads:

The number of hospital admissions and deaths caused by the coronavirus is rising rapidly. Meanwhile, increasingly more people are feeling the consequences of the new economic crisis. Among workers, students, and pupils, there is a lot of uncertainty about the second wave and the economic crisis, as well as what this will mean for their job or education. The government, however, refuses to offer solutions and leaves everything to ‘individual responsibility’. Only big capital can count on the government for generous support.

France: Thousands of healthcare workers in the streets said "applause is not enough"!

“Applause is not enough” said yesterday hundreds of thousands of healthcare workers throughout France, demonstrating for their jobs, their rights and the country’s public healthcare system. 

At least 250,000 protesters in Paris, Marseille, Toulouse, Lille and other French cities participated in protests against Macron government’s neoliberal policies which lead to more cuts in public healthcare sector. To date, the government hasn’t responded to the major urgent demands of healthcare and hospital workers who ask for increased wages, for an end to bed and hospital closures and for an increase of healthcare workers in public hospitals with sufficient medical equipment. 

The "American Dream" in times of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic revealed, in the most tragic way, the actual essence of the so-called “American Dream”. 

The images from the mass graves in Hart Island, the overloaded morgues, the utter failure of the U.S. health system to protect the people from the pandemic are characteristics of capitalism’s advanced decay. 

May Day 2020 amidst Coronavirus pandemic — Statement by the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU)

The World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), on the occasion of May Day 2020, salutes the workers in all continents; all those whose work continues to move the gears of life even in difficult conditions such as the Coronavirus Pandemic and keeps producing all the necessary goods so that life may continue and the needs of workers and popular strata can be met.

We honor the millions of employees in public healthcare systems around the world: doctors, nurses, all healthcare workers, who amidst the Coronavirus pandemic struggle every day to save the patients from the pandemic without even having the necessary protective and medical equipment, risking their own health and lives. 

VOC’s Schizophrenic Anti-Communism

Amidst COVID-19 pandemic, the lackeys of monopoly capital and imperialism are imitating Goebbel's tactics.

More specifically, the so-called “Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation” (VOC) – the infamous propagandistic tool of U.S. imperialism – strikes again, by officially adding global coronavirus deaths to its tally of… historical victims of communism! 

In a ridiculous, totally unfounded and slanderous announcement, VOC unleashed an attack against China, claiming that the deaths caused by COVID-19 must be included in the... “global count of 100 million deaths at the hands of Communism”. 

Turkey: While Erdogan cares about capitalists' profits, TKP communists say "people first!"

The response of Tayyip Erdogan's AKP government to the COVID-19 pandemic has  primarily focused on the safeguarding of big businesses and monopolies' profitability, criminally neglecting the health and security of the working people. 

Fundamental rights of healthcare workers have been suspended, while thousands of working men and women (at least 811,000 workers between the ages of 18-20) are forced to work without the basic protection measures. 

Sweden's "welfare state" in times of Covid-19: The Communist Party (SKP) reveals the truth

While COVID-19 pandemic threatens the lives of Sweden’s working class and people, the state seems to care about how it will protect and safeguard of capitalists’ profitability. 

The Communist Party of Sweden (SKP) has been active in exposing the cynical response of the government during the pandemic outbreak and the state’s negligence towards the health of the workers and the less privileged popular strata. 

George Mavrikos (WFTU): "There is no vaccine, nor will it be found, to humanize capitalism"

The following article was written by George Mavrikos, General Secretary of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) which represents more than 100 million workers in 132 countries, on the occasion of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.

The King is naked

By George Mavrikos.

The entire planet is deeply immersed in the coronavirus pandemic. To this day, there are 921,002 infected and 46,153 dead, according to official data. The situation is tragic on all continents. Thousands of families mourn their dead, hundreds of thousands suffer from the disease and millions of people live with anxiety and fear. We express to all of them our solidarity.

Greece: Action Day on Healthcare "We break the silence- Masked mouths still have a voice"

Under the slogan “We break the silence, we raise our voice for the people’s health”, numerous class workers’ unions, unions of doctors and medical staff, participate in today’s Action Day throughout Greece. 

The Action Day on Healthcare has been an initiative of the Association of Hospital Doctors of Greece (OENGE) which has been in the front line of the struggle for the protection of the people’s health during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. 

Covid-19 in India: Communist and Left Parties issue joint statement, call for urgent action

In face of the COVID-19 outbreak in India, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Communist Party of India, the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist)-Liberation, tge Revolutionary Socialist Party and the All India Forward Bloc have issued the following statement:

Attend to People’s Concerns on a War-Footing

Greece: The "Black Bible of Employers during the Pandemic" presented by PAME

In a press conference held on Thursday 2 April in Athens, the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) presented numerous cases of anti-worker policies and tactics implemented by big businesses during the last weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic in Greece.

Nikos Papageorgiou, member of the PAME Secretariat, pointed out that there is “an unprecedented attack by the big employers who are utilizing all the measures taken by the government”, adding that “with most businesses closed, the government has issued Decree Laws including provisions that abolish labour rights, cut in half the already miserable wages, empower employers with the right to pay us whenever they want, to employ us whenever, wherever and however they want.” 

54 Communist Youths issue joint declaration on Covid-19 pandemic, blast capitalism's injustice

In a joint declaration, 54 Communist Youth organizations from all over the world demand immediate measures for the protection of public health, workers and the youth in face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As 902 portal reported, the joint declaration began as an initiative of the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE) and was co-formed with the participation of many Communist Youths. The text addresses the young men and women of the world, sending a message of struggle, solidarity and optimism: “During these difficult times, the Communist Youths are here! We say it clearly: We can win! Nobody stays alone – Now it’s the time of solidarity – We will get through it together!”. 

Dimitris Koutsoumbas: “EU solidarity is a joke, capitalism itself has bankrupted”

With an article published in the weekend edition of the KKE’s newspaper “Rizospastis”, General Secretary Dimitris Koutsoumbas refers to the COVID-19 situation and the political consequences of the current pandemic.  

Under the title “The end of myths and illussions”, the article draws important conclusions about healthcare in capitalism, highlighting the fact that the pandemic shows the limitations of the capitalist system itself. 

Fidel Castro: "Doctors, not bombs"

During this difficult situation of COVID-19 pandemic, with Cuba being once again a champion of internationalist solidarity, we remember the words of an extraordinary revolutionary, an exemplary communist, leader and man, Comandante Fidel Castro Ruz. 

Excerpts from Fidel’s 2003 speech given at the Law School of the University of Buenos Aires: 

"Since I am an optimist, I think this world can be saved, in spite of the mistakes made, in spite of the immense, hegemonic powers that have been created, because I believe ideas prevail over force...

Covid-19: Joint Statement by Communist and Workers' Parties demand immediate measures to protect the health and rights of the people

In their Joint Statement, 81 Communist and Workers' Parties from all over the world take a position on the global situation created by the pandemic of the novel coronavirus. 

In the Joint Statement, initiated by the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), the CPs express their support to both doctors and nurses as well as those suffering from the disease and denounce the huge shortages in the public health sector which result from the anti-popular policy followed by the governments in the service of the capital, commercializing and privatizing health to support the profitability of the monopoly groups. 

#ScioperaPerMe: Workers in Italy go on strike demanding more protection measures due to Covid-19 pandemic

Thousands of workers participated in the General Strike initiated by the Italian trade Union USB (Unione Sindacale di Base) on Wednesday 25 March. Throughout Italy, from Trieste to Taranto, all non-essential production stopped, sending a symbolic but militant message to the government about the workers’ rights and demands. 

The strike comes as a response to the criminal policy of the government and big employers that denied the suspension of unecessary activity in industries and businesses during the COVID-19 outbreak, thus endangering millions of lives, including those of the workers. 

Communist MEPs call the EU to take immediate protection measures in face of Covid-19

According to a report published on 902 portal, Communist Party of Greece (ΚΚΕ) MEPs Kostas Papadakis and Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos sent a letter to the presidents of the European Council, EU Commission and EU Parliament, demanding immediate measures of prevention and protection by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In their letter addressed to Mr Charles Michel, Mrs Ursula Von Der Leyen and Mr David Maria Sassoli, the KKE eurodeputies point out the great difficulties that doctors and medical staff face in their fight against COVID-19 outbreak. 

Marco Rizzo: "Covid-19 killed EU and capitalism. The only solution is socialism"

Interviewed by affaritaliani.it, the General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party, Italy (Partito Comunista) Marco Rizzo analyzed the actual reasons behind the dramatic situation that exists in Italy due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“The dramatic health situation that Italy is experiencing these days shows clearly how in the last 30 years, since the fall of the Berlin Wall and the disappearance of the Soviet Union, the entire welfare state and public healthcare of our country has been dismantled”, points out Rizzo. 

Covid-19 in Greece: KKE on the forefront of the struggle for the protection of workers-people’s health

"The KKE is by your side. No fear, no one alone! Together
we will get through it", reads a Party poster (left).

“We stay strong” is the message of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) which has launched powerful initiatives demanding immediate measures for the protection of the working people’s health in face of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

“We stay militant in support of the workers-people’s rights! By the side of doctors and nurses, in their efforts to respond to the “war” but also in their demands for adequate and proper weapons in this war”, writes a post on 902 portal.