Brazilian Communist Party launches Sofia Manzano as pre-candidate for 2022 presidential election

In a statement, the Brazilian Communist Party (PCB) announced that Sofia Manzano will be its pre-candidate for the presidential elections that are scheduled to take place on 2 October 2022. 

 The full statement in English and Portuguese is the following:

The Central Committee of the Brazilian Communist Party (PCB), meeting this weekend, decided to launch professor Sofia Manzano as a pre-candidate for the presidency of the Republic. Economist, PhD in Economic History from USP and PCB activist since the age of 17, Sofia Manzano is a professor at the State University of Southwest Bahia (UESB) and has a long trajectory in the struggles of youth and the trade union movement. 

KKE condemns the murder of two Greek expats in Ukraine

In a statement, the Press Office of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) condemns the murder of two Greek expatriates and the injury of two others by Ukrainian troops in the village Graninta in Eastern Ukraine. 

According to the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, those responsible for the double homicide are three soldiers of the Ukrainian army, who argued with the Greeks over a trivial cause. The statement (here in Greek) of the Communist Party reads: 

14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Australia

The Communist Party of Australia (CPA) celebrates its 14th National Congress on 25-27 February 2022 with the slogan “Build the Party for a Socialist Future”. 

The slogan recognises the strategic role of the Communist Party in the seizure of power and the building of socialism.

The CPA turned 101 years of existence on 30th October 2021 and we continue to be committed to build on the experience accumulated over a century of struggle for the Australian working class.

Communist Party of Canada on "Freedom Convoy": A far-right, dangerous movement for the working class

In a statement about the so-called "Freedom Convoy", the Central Executive Committee of the Communist Party of Canada points out:

Communist Party of Canada views the “Freedom Convoy” as a public expression of the increasingly organized and assertive far right. The clear links between the organizers of the convoy and far-right networks indicate that this is not a spontaneous working-class demonstration. On the contrary, it is part of a global phenomenon: the rise and mainstreaming of the far right, which is demonstrated by the strong support (ideologically and financially) from the US far right and circles close to Donald Trump and the Jan. 6th insurrection.

Spain: PCTE communists expose government's celebrations over minimum wage increase

Spain will increase the national minimum wage by 3.6% to 1,167 euros ($1,334) per month, Labour Minister Yolanda Diaz said on Wednesday. Calling the increase “a very important milestone”, Diaz said that seeking to compete with other nations by pushing down salaries in the past had led to a weak economy and precarious businesses, and was profoundly unjust.

The social democratic government of Pedro Sanchez is trying to present this decision as a great success of pro-people policy. However the rise of inflation alone diminishes the increase and the minimum wage remains below the poverty line.

18th WFTU Congress to be held in Rome on 6-8 May 2022

In a statement, the Secretariat of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) has announced that its 18th Congress will take place in Rome on 6-8 May 2022. More specifically, the statement points out:

The WFTU Presidential Council which met on 1&2 February 2022 announced the organization of the 18th World Trade Union Congress in Rome, Italy, on 6, 7 and 8 of May 2022, under the slogan: “United, we continue! For the satisfaction of our contemporary needs, against imperialist-capitalist barbarity!”

Communist Parties' participation in bourgeois governments is a deeply erroneous strategy

By Nikos Mottas.

Every time a Communist Party compromised the aim of workers' power in order to participate (or support) a “progressive”, “left-wing”, “anti-capitalist”, “anti-fascist” etc, bourgeois government the results were utterly disappointing, leading to ideological degeneration and disintegration of the workers-popular movement.

A few days ago, the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP), a party with significant history, paid the price of its participation in the “progressive” government of the Socialists, by receiving a rather disappointing 4.4% and four seats in the legislative elections. This result marks an almost 2% loss compared to the 2019 election. 

Interview of Andreas Sörensen, chairman of the Communist Party of Sweden, to Left Magazine

Andreas Sörensen, chairman of the Communist Party of Sweden (SKP), was recently interviewed by the Sri Lankan "Left Magazine" (here in Swedish). Below you can read the full interview in English:

— First of all, we would like to make our readers aware of the Communist Party of Sweden, its history and current activities. It would also be useful if you could give a brief overview of its basic political and organizational objectives.

COSCO dockworkers in Piraeus defy police and threats, held 24-hour massive strike

“We will not yield to their intimidation, no worker shall stand alone, not a step back from the right to strike and the defence of our rights” is the message sent by the COSCO workers who are on strike at the Piraeus port in Greece. 

“The strike is extremely successful. Very few workers have gone to work, who will soon join us”, announced the administrative board of ENEDEP (Container Handling Workers’ Trade Union at the Piers of Piraeus).

Brazil: Communists bid farewell to Maria Prestes

"Maria Prestes: Present, today and always" reads a statement signed by Edmilson Costa, General Secretary of the Brazilian Communist Party (PCB). 

The widow of long-time Brazilian communist leader Luiz Carlos Prestes, died on Friday in Rio de Janeiro due to complications from Covid-19. She was 92 years old. “A communist proud of her battle and the most great grandmother anybody might ever have,” Maria’s granddaughter wrote on Twitter. 

Okuyan: "The Communist Party of Turkey will not enter into an alliance with any party of existing social order"

Interview with Kemal Okuyan, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP), on the recent extraordinary conference and political debates on the opposition, by journalist Özlem Temenna:

— The Communist Party of Turkey shared the resolutions taken at the extraordinary conference with the press. The title of the conference was declared as “One More Step Further”. What kind of roadmap did you employ while preparing the conference resolutions? What kind of a country did you call the masses for? 

12th Congress of the Communist Party of Bangladesh

The Twelfth Congress of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) will take place on 25-26 February 2022, the Party's Central Committee has announced.

The Congress was due to held on 10-13 February but it was rescheduled due to Coronavirus pandemic. 

CPB President Mujahidul Islam Selim and General Secretary Comrade Mohammad Shah Alam called upon all party members and workers to make the Twelfth Congress a success on the rescheduled date.