"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. 

Google, Facebook reject communism-related ads: The case of KNE Festival

It is more than obvious that multinational tech monopolies, such as Google and Facebook, aren’t friendly towards communist ideas. There have been plenty of cases where social media giant Facebook has blocked posts and pages that feature the sickle and hammer symbol or propagandize anti-imperialist policies.

According to an article published today in 902.gr portal, Google and Facebook have recently rejected advertisements promoting the Festival of the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE), in what seems to be another incident of anti-communist discrimination. 

FESTA DO AVANTE and KNE-ODIGITIS FESTIVAL: Europe’s largest communist festivals to be held in September

The posters of this year's festivals in Portugal and Greece:
Festa do Avante! and the 46th KNE-Odigitis Festival.

Despite pressure and efforts by reactionary bourgeois political forces to postpone this year’s “Festa do Avante” due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) has decided to proceed to the organisation of the festival, ensuring that all the necessary health measures will be taken. 

In a statement, the PCP provide solid answers to its critics about the festival’s organisation. The governmental decree on summer festivals and similar activities stresses out that they can be carried out as long as they comply with the necessary health rules and obligations. “The attack on the party is just an expression of the reactionary forces’ long-standing objective: to question the exercise of political rights and more particularly the activity of the PCP and unions”, points out an article of the Party titled “Why we organize the Avante Festival”. 

KNE-Odigitis festival in Athens: Awe-inspiring political event addressed by D. Koutsoumbas

A speech by the General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Dimitris Koutsoumbas on Saturday evening marked the end of the three-day events of the 45th KNE-Odigitis festival in Athens. 

In a awe-inspiring political gathering, which attracted thousands of people of every age, Koutsoumbas sent a message of political resistance and counterattack, stressing out that "with our struggles, our dreams, our power, we can build a free world, open and full of hope, socialism". 

45th KNE-Odigitis festival concludes its journey on 19-21 September in Athens

After a successful tour throughout Greece, the festival of the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE) concludes with a three-day events at Tritsis Park in Athens. 

The festival will take place between 19 and 21 of September and includes numerous cultural and political events. 

This year's major slogan is Nazim Hikmet's words: "With the struggles, the dreams, our power... we will build a world that is free, open, full of hope". In a major political event, which has been scheduled for Saturday 21 September, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Dimitris Koutsoumbas will be the major speaker. A message will also be delivered by the Secretary of the CC of KNE Nikos Abatielos. 

KKE-KNE pay farewell to popular songwriter and singer Lavrentis Macheritsas

"Another one great songwriter saddenly passed away, leaving us with the richness of his work", points out a statement of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) for the death of popular rock singer and songwriter Lavrentis Macheritsas. 

The KKE statement continues: "Like all these years, from his beginning until the time he "left", he accompanied us with his music and songs and he will continue accompany us in our small and great moments. Grandson of the executed - in April 1948 - militant Lavrentis Macheritsas from Volos, he was dynamically participating in the movement, with his music being his weapon. We will always remember his participation in the Festivals of KNE. In the electoral battles of our Party, with his support statements as well as his active participation, such as in 2006 when he was elected city councillor at the Municipality of Athens with the KKE's list". 

The 45th KNE-Odigitis festival to be held on 19-21 September in Athens

KNE-Odigitis festival in Athens (Archive Photo).

With the struggles, the dreams, our power....we will build a world that is free, open, full of hope". These words by Nazim Hikmet consist the major slogan of the 45th KNE-Odigitis festival which is organized by the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE), the youth wing of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE).

Events by KNE have been scheduled in numerous cities and towns across Greece during August and September. In the country's second largest city, Thessaloniki, the festivities will take place on 12-14th of September including a large political event addressed by the General Secretary of the KKE Dimitris Koutsoumbas. 

The Communist Parties have the duty to develop revolutionary strategy- Speech by Giorgos Marinos

On Saturday September 22nd, the representatives of 40 Communist and Anti-imperialist Youth organizations from around the world that participated in the Festival 100 Years of KKE - 50 years of KNE visited the Headquarters of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) in Perissos, Athens. 

On behalf of the CC of the KKE, Giogros Marinos, member of the PB of the CC of the KKE welcomed the delegations and thanked them wholeheartedly for their presence in Greece and for their participation in the Festival's central activities.

KNE Festival: Massive attendance surpassed all expectations - Report from Athens

ATHENS- With an overwhelming, massive participation of people of every age, this year's KNE-Odigitis Festival surpasssed any expectations. 

Dedicated to the 100 years of the Communist Party of Greece and the 50 years since the foundation of its youth wing, KNE, the festival took place at Athens' Tritsis Park, on 20-22 of September. 

Inspired by the lyrics of a poem written by Yannis Ritsos, the festival's slogan was “it's been a long road so far. A difficult road! A certain road. Now this road is yours to follow”.

Palestinian activist Ahed Tamimi to attend Communist Youth festival in Athens

According to a statement by the Central Council of the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE), the 17 year-old Palestinian activist and former prisoner Ahed Tamimi will attend the events of the KNE-Odigitis festival, on Saturday 22 September at Tritsis Park, in Athens, Greece. 

As the statement of KNE writes, after numerous protests by the KKE and KNE and a wave of solidarity from all over the world, the Israeli authorities lifted the travel prohibition imposed on Tamimi and her family. Therefore, the 17 year-old anti-occupation activist and her family will be in the Greek capital to participate in the KNE festival events.

The 44th KNE-Odigitis festival to be held on 20-22 September in Athens

KNE-Odigitis festival (Archive photo).

Celebrating 50 years since its foundation and under the slogan "It has been a long road so far. A difficult road!... A certain road…100 years of KKE – 50 years of the KNE Festival…now this road is yours to follow", the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE) organizes the 44th KNE-Odigitis festival. 

Like every year, events will be organized by KNE in many cities and towns across Greece, ending with a three-day large festival in Athens on 20-22 September 2018. Following a tradition of the last 7 years, the KNE-Odigitis festival will take place at "Antonis Tritsis Park" in the district of Ilion in Athens. 

50 years of Communist Youth of Greece - Declaration of the Central Council of KNE

Declaration of the Central Council for the course towards the 50 years of life and action of KNE

The 50-year course of KNE is the youthful storming of the future, 

for the new world, socialism-communism

Source: PDF version.

D. Koutsoumbas: "We continue on the road opened by the October Socialist Revolution. For the victory, for Socialism - Communism"

Speech by the Secretary General of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Dimitris Koutsoumbas in the political event of the 43rd KNE-Odigitis Festival in Athens. Source: inter.kke.gr: 

"Friends and comrades,

The future is here! The future is here, at the 43rd festival of KNE and ODIGITIS, in this beautiful picture of the enlightened future world which all visitors can admire.

The future is here, in the Tritsi park, in the center of the western Attica, which has been transformed into a red city thanks to the volunteer work and will of our KNE’s members and friends.

You can see the future in the faces of the thousands of young people who are determined to fight for a life with modern rights to work, education, life,  sports and culture. That’s the origin of our slogan, “Youth does not bow its head, it attacks and struggles alongside the KKE!”

Powerful message for struggle: At least 250,000 people attended KNE-Odigitis Festival in Athens

Photo: 902.gr

With the tremendous, unprecedented participation of thousands of people of all ages, the three-day events of the 43rd Festival of the Communist Youth of Greece and its newspaper "Odigitis" were concluded in Athens. 

According to KNE, the number of the people who attended the cultural and political events of the festival reaches the record high of 250,000.

The third and last day of the Festival, among other events, included a large concert dedicated to the late composer Manos Loizos, with the participation of popular singers like George Dalaras, Maria Farantouri and Vasilis Papakonstantinou. The concert took place on the occasion of the 80 years since the birth of Loizos, one of Greece's most talented composers who died at the age of 45. 

Applause and respect for Mikis Theodorakis at the KNE-Odigitis Festival

Under the sounds of "Romiosini"- one of Greek music's greatest compositions- and a warm applause thousands of people welcomed Mikis Theodorakis at the KNE-Odigitis festival, yesterday evening at Tritsis Park in Athens. The legendary composer- also a political figure whose activity left its stamp on the Greek left- was welcomed by the Secretary General of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Dimitris Koutsoumbas and the Secretary of the Communist Youth (KNE) Nikos Abatielos.

KKE welcomes 30 Communist and Anti-imperialist youth organisations participating at KNE Festival

A meeting between representatives of 30 Communist and Anti-imperialist youth organisations which participate at the 43rd KNE-Odigitis Festival and the Secretary General of the CC of the KKE Dimitris Koutsoumbas was held earlier today at the Party's headquarters in Perissos, Athens. 

In his welcome speech, D.Koutsoumbas said:

"We welcome in the headquarters of the CC of the KKE the 30 Communist and Anti-imperialist youth organisations from all over the world which are in Greece for the 43rd KNE-Odigitis Festival.

KKE GS Koutsoumbas: NATO-USA-EU are in no way guarantors of "peace" and "security" in the Balkans

The Secretary General of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Dimitris Koutsoumbas spoke at a major political event of the 43rd KNE-Odigitis Festival in Thessaloniki.

Source: inter.kke.gr.

The political and cultural events of the 43rd Festival of the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE) and its newspaper "Odigitis", which this year are dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the October Revolution.

The three days' of events of KNE's Festival in Thessaloniki were held from the 13th to the 16th of September. At the Festival a major political rally was held, where the GS of the CC of the KKE, Dimitris Koutsoumpas spoke and called on the youth "from tomorrow, with the impetus of the successful festival, more workers and young people should come with us on the path for revolutionary change.

The 43rd KNE-Odigitis Festival concludes its journey with a three-day political and cultural event in Athens

After passing from numerous cities and town across Greece, including last week's successful three-day festivities in Thessaloniki, the 43rd KNE-Odigitis Festival concludes its journey on 21-23 September in Athens. The events of the festival, which have political and cultural dimensions, will be held at "Antonis Tritsis" Park in the western suburb of Ilion. 

This year's Festival by the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE) is dedicated to the 100 years since the Great October Socialist Revolution. For that reason, a significant part of the Festival will honour this great historical event, with a large exhibition which will also include material from the KKE archives. 

43rd KNE-Odigitis Festival: The Communist Youth of Greece to honor October Revolution's centennial

KNE-Odigitis Festival (Archive photo).

In Defense of Communism with info from 902.gr.

For more than four decades, the KNE-Odigitis Festival, organised by the Communist Youth of Greece (youth wing of the KKE), consists a major annual cultural and political event. 

This year, the KNE-Odigitis festival will honor the Great Socialist October Revolution, using as a major slogan the lyrics of the Soviet poet Vladimir Mayakovsky: "100 years since the October that shocked the world "the future will not come on its own… If we do not also take measures". 

Speech of the General Secretary of KKE Dimitris Koutsoumbas at the 42nd KNE-Odigitis festival

The full speech of the General Secretary of the CC of KKE Dimitris Koutsoumbas at the 42nd KNE-Odigitis Festival, Saturday 24 September. Source: inter.kke.gr.

Dear friends,

Dear comrades,

The festival of KNE-Odigitis every year leaves its mark. With hundreds of events all around Greece and naturally with the actvities here, in the “Antonis Tritsis” park. If some people are wondering why the festival of KNE endured when all similar initiatives of other political organizations have unraveled over  time, the answer lies in the content of the festival.

Every year, thousands of young people meet, are entertained and discuss their worries and their dreams. With the contribution of renowned artists from every field, by  promoting amateur creativity, by getting to know the workers’- people’s culture and the artistic works of great communist and progressive creators that we have the responsibility to disseminate to the younger generations.