Greece: PAME denounces pro-government trade unionism, calls for nationwide strike on November 8th

In a statement the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) denounces the pro-governmental, anti-workers stance of the majority of the Executive Committee of the General Confereration of Greek Workers (GSEE) which, during a meeting on October 8th, rejected the proposal for a General Strike on November 8th. 

According to PAME, the forces of the employer and government-led trade unionism argued that the workers... "must wait for the developments", while they unleashed slanders against PAME. More specifically, among other things, the statement of PAME writes:

Parliamentary politics and the communist party: the electoral arena, experience and lessons from Greece and the KKE

By Giorgos Marinos*.

We would like to thank the South African Communist Party for giving us the opportunity to attempt to share some basic elements from the experience of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) with our comrades. In our opinion, the exchange of views on the issues of class struggle and the communist movement enhances our knowledge and experience.

Introduction

The KKE was founded as a party of the working class one century ago, in November 1918, as a result of the merging of the labour movement with scientific communism, under the decisive impact of the Socialist October Revolution.

Massive demonstration by PAME during the opening of Thessaloniki's International Fair

Thousands of workers, farmers, unemployed and self-employed men and women participated in a large demonstration organized by the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) in the center of Thessaloniki on Saturday evening. 

The protest was organized on the occasion of the opening, by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, of the 83rd International Trade Fair where the "honored country" is the United States of America. 

Alexis Tsipras: From “anti-imperialism” to US-NATO's most loyal ally

By Nikos Mottas.

Those who follow the political developments in Greece during the last decade have certainly understood the rapid transformation of SYRIZA- the ruling party in today's coalition government- from a small party of the opportunist left into the country's major social democratic power. In this site we have written extensively, in numerous occasions, about the role of SYRIZA a major pillar (alongside the center-right New Democracy party) of the bourgeois political establishment.

Greek maritime workers defy shipowners-government, continue their 48-hour strike

Defying the threats and warnings from the shipowning companies and the SYRIZA-ANEL coalition government, Greece's maritime workers continue for a 2nd day their strike over labor rights and collective agreements.

The 48-hour national strike was organized by Greece’s seamen federation (PNO), which said in a statement that negotiations with the sector’s employers over a new collective agreement that would include wage increases did not bear fruit. In its statement, PNO said that “for eight consecutive years, the seamen have not received not even a one-euro increase” and asked for passengers’ understanding and support.

Tsipras' effort to try to pose as a left-wing politician is laughable

Addressing a meeting of SYRIZA's Central Committee on Monday, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras gave another show of mockery, spreading new illusions about the political character of his government. 

Referring to the “end of the austerity memorandums” Tsipras said “we need a strong party, united and open to society,” as 2019 will be a “year of great battles.”

“The end of the memorandum marks the end of a political cycle for SYRIZA,” the Greek Prime Minister said, adding that the party must adapt to the times and seek to build stronger alliances with the party base. Furthermore, he once again tried to exploit the heroic historic legacy of the Greek left in order to present himself as a left-wing leader, despite the fact that his government has implemented harsh neoliberal anti-people anti-workers measures during the last 3.5 years.

Mass workers' rally to be organized during Alexis Tsipras visit in Thessaloniki Fair

Under the slogan "Our needs to the forefront", the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) calls the working people in mass participation in the demonstration which will take place on Saturday 8 September in Thessaloniki, during the official opening of the city's International Fair. 

"No compromise with miserable life, no more waiting", writes the PAME statement, calling the working men and women, the self-employed and unemployed people, the youth to raise their voice against the SYRIZA-ANEL government's mockery and anti-people policy. 

KKE slams Tsipras over his celebrations for the supposed "end of austerity"

In a televised address from the Ionian island of Ithaca, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said that the country's emergence from nine years of crisis and international financial bailouts marks a “new day” for the country, a “day of redemption but also the dawning of a new era".

In a speech laden with classical symbolism, the Prime Minister said that Greece’s modern-day “Odyssey,” which had begun in 2010, had come to an end. “The bailouts of recession, austerity and social desertification are finally over.” 

“Our country regains its right to shape its own future,” Tsipras said from a hill overlooking a bay in the island where Odysseus returned after a 10-year voyage recounted by classical poet Homer. He also added that “we have left the Symplegades behind,” referring to the mythological rocks at the Bosporus that clashed together whenever a vessel went through.

Belgium's Communist Party (PCB) withdraws membership from the "European Left"

The recent Congress of the Communist Party of Belgium (Le Parti Communiste de Belgique), which took place in Brussels, decided with a 83% majority to withdraw the Party's membership from the Party of the European Left (PEL).

According to PCB, several reasons led to this decision, including PEL's hostility towards historical socialism (20th century socialism), as well as the "unacceptable attitude of the European Left's leaders towards NATO". 

Wildfires in Greece: A Capitalist Crime

At least 84 people are dead and 187 injured. The number of those missing is still unknown. Thousands of properties have been turned into ashes. The results of the deadly wildfires which affected the region of Attica are devastating.

The SYRIZA-ANEL coalition government has unleashed an outrageous communicative campaign in order to throw the blame for the disaster somewhere else, except from itself. They blame the “weather”, the “climate change”, the supposedly “unprecedented weather conditions”, the “wind”, etc.

Greece Wildfires: Tsipras' government bears "criminal responsibilities", says the KKE

KKE: The policy that sacrifices fire protection is guilty of the CRIME

The firefighting forces fought with the flames, but their struggle was uneven since the current government of SYRIZA-ANEL, like all the previous ones, blamed the weather, without having any substantial organization, infrastructure and means. 

As it is pointed out in the comment of the Press Office of the CC of the KKE: “The fires that destroy forest and rural land as well as residences, once again highlight the lack of fire protection measures, the inadequacy of forest protection and forest fire-fighting infrastructures and the shortcomings in means and personnel. The KKE demands from the government of SYRIZA-ANEL, from all responsible state and local authorities, to take all the necessary measures right now in order to effectively deal with the fires that are in progress.” 

KKE: Tsipras' speech at NATO Summit insults and provokes the Greek people

"The SYRIZA-ANEL government emerges as the most consistent pro-NATO power. The speech of Tsipras at the Summit was an "hymn" to NATO, which insults and provokes the Greek people" writes a statement of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece regarding the recent NATO summit in Brussels. 

The KKE statement points out that "the NATO Summit, with the agreement of the SYRIZA-ANEL government, concluded in very dangerous decisions and plans of war preparation, part of which is the acceleration of new countries' integration in the murderous alliance". 

KKE: EU's Migration Summit was a "terrible bazaar" against refugees-immigrants

“A terrible bazaar against uprooted refugees and immigrants”; that is how the Communist Party of Greece characterizes the recent EU Migration Summit. In a statement, among other things, the KKE points out that “the dangerous decisions are summarized into more entrapment of refugees and immigrants in Greece, more repression, deportations and attack in the rights of immigrants and refugees, countries-”storehouses” of immigrants, greater penetration of european monopolies in third countries in the name of immigration limitation”.

Greek debt deal: KKE slams government's celebrations, warns of new harsh policies

“The government's celebrations can not hide that yesterday's Eurogroup agreement is essentially a post-memorandum Memorandum [of austerity]. The so-called "post-memorandum" period, not only will not be accompanied by substantial relief for the working-class strata but will involve new burdens. The huge budget surpluses, the rigid surveillance and approval of the process of "reforms" by the "institutions", the privatizations, the preservation of all antipeople measures in the Memorandums, and the completion of all those “remaining issues” reveal the true outcome of the agreement" points out the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) in a statement on the Eurogroup decision on Greek debt.

Tsipras regrets 2015 referendum, expresses full obedience to EU anti-worker reforms

In an interview to the German newspaper Die Welt, Greece's Prime Minister and SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras confirmed with his own words his total transformation into a docile impementer of the anti-people, anti-worker reforms, imposed by the EU and the capitalists. 

Speaking like a man who expresses repetance for his past, Tsipras had kind words for the German chancellor Angela Merkel, praising her role in dealing with the refugee crisis that swamped Greece in 2015, coming in the first few months of the Tsipras government's assumption of power.

KKE slams Tsipras government's deal with FYROM over the Macedonia name dispute

In a statement issued today, the Press Office of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece sharply criticized the government's recent deal over the Macedonia name issue. 

More specifically, the KKE statement writes that "the agreement between the governments of Greece and FYROM was achieved with the open intervention of the US, NATO and the EU, it has their stamp and was signed on the basis of the deadlines and timetables set by these organisations so that the euroatlantic integration of the western Balkans can proceed".

Macedonia name deal: A “solution” that serves the interests of NATO-EU imperialists

By Nikos Mottas.

Tsipras and Zaev agreed; the US, NATO and the EU applause. That phrase can describe the recent agreement between the governments of Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia regarding the decades-old name dispute. “We have a deal” said Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras yesterday in a televised announcement, describing the accord between the two countries on the name “Severna Makedonija” (Northern Macedonia).

PAME calls for nationwide demonstrations on June 14th against antipeople measures

On the occasion of the submission, by the SYRIZA-ANEL government, to the Parliament of the new omnibus bill that includes numerous antipeople measures, the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) calls the working people for nationwide rallies on Thursday 14th June. 

The demonstration in Athens will take place on Thursday 14th June, at 1 pm at Omonia Square. In Thessaloniki, the respective rally will be held a day before, on Wednesday at 7 pm.

Interview with Ástor García, Gen. Secretary of the Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE)

Special interview with Ástor García, General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE). 

IDC: According to your party's statement the dispute in the Parliament, between the People's Party (PP) and PSOE, consists the result of a competition between differents parts of the capital. Do you think that the big capital wants new anti-worker, anti-people reforms that a PSOE government under P. Sanchez premiership could implement easier than the previous government? If yes, could you briefly tell us what kind of reforms the new government is planning to implement?

Greek workers in the streets: Trade Unions call for National General Strike on May 30th

Under the slogan "Your development crushes our life! Struggle, organization and and counterattack", the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) calls the working people of Greece to participate actively in the 24-hour General Strike on Wednesday 30th of May. 

Labour Unions, students and womens' associations, peace committees and other groups of the class-based movement call for mass participation in the national strike. In Athens, the demonstrators will gather at Omonoia square at 10.30 am, while numerous strike rallies have been scheduled in many cities across Greece.