Europe floods: The tragic results of capitalist development

Europe's death toll from catastrophic flooding rose to at least 199 on Monday with hard-hit west Germany and Belgium reeling from the devastation. Nearly 300 people remain unaccounted for in Germany and Belgium, officials announced. 

There are at least 163 dead in Germany, according to authorities. The hardest-hit areas in Germany are Rhineland-Palatinate, where 117 have been killed in the flooding and in North Rhine-Westphalia, where at least 46 people died and 138 remain unaccounted for, the Koblenz Police and the German Ministry of Interior said.

Die Linke supported the ban of German Communist Party

On 9 July we wrote that the Federal Election Commission announced that the German Communist Party (DKP) will not be allowed to participate in September's Bundestag elections and at the same time will be deprived of its status as a political party. 

The pretext for this shameful decision was the alleged late submission of financial statements. 

Several Communist and Workers' Parties from across the world have strongly condemned the decision of the Commission and expressed its solidarity to the DKP. 

Fidel Castro — Why we don’t need more than one party

Excerpts from speech delivered by Comandante en Jefe Fidel Castro, July 26, 1988: 

There is one very essential idea, and that is never to forget where we are situated, which is not in the Black Sea, but in the Caribbean, not 90 miles from Odessa, but 90 miles from Miami, with a border on our own land, in an occupied part of our territory, with imperialism. Our people are in charge in our country; and our Party is responsible for its policy, its line, its defense.

Muhammad Naffa, former General Secretary of the Israeli Communist Party, passes away

The Politburo and the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Israel mourn the passing away of our comrade, author and communist leader Muhammad Naffa (Abu Hisham), to the Palestinian people and to all progressive forces in the country and world, and to the International Communist Movement. Comrade Naffa left us yesterday, July 15th 2021.

Comrade Naffa has spent his entire life on the path of struggle and activism, fighting against war and occupation, racial discrimination, against imperialism, colonialism and reactionism in all its shapes, and for the freedom and independence of his Palestinian people and for social justice in the country and the world.

Cuba will win! Joint statement of Communist and Workers Parties

In a joint statement, more than 60 Communist and Workers' Parties express their solidarity to Cuba, denouncing the orchestrated provocation by the USA and counterrevolutionary groups. 

The statement reads: 

Hands Off Cuba! Solidarity statements from WFTU and PAME

In a statement about the recent imperialist-backed provocation against Cuba, the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) points out:

The World Federation of Trade Unions, which is the militant voice of 105 million workers in 133 countries on five continents, conveys its internationalist solidarity to the Cuban workers and People. We strongly condemn the recent provocations orchestrated by counterrevolutionary elements in Cuba, organised and financed from the United States for destabilising purposes.

The world class-oriented trade union movement supports the Cuban People in their struggle against these actions. We demand the lifting of the criminal blockade that for 60 years has been creating serious problems for the economy and the lives of the Cuban people.

Cuba is not alone! Communist Parties condemn U.S-backed provocation against Cuba

Cuba, the Island of the Revolution, is not alone! Millions of people from all over the world denounce the U.S-backed imperialist provocation and express their solidarity to the government and the people of Cuba. 

 

"Cuba and its streets belong to the revolutionaries", underlined Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel.

In their statements, Communist and Workers Parties reaffirm their unequivocal solidarity towards Cuba, demand an end to the genocidal blockade imposed by the U.S. governments and point out that the destabilization attempts will fail. 

KKE: Solidarity with Cuba! Imperialist plans shall not pass!

In a statement about the recent imperialist counterrevolutionary provocation against Cuba, the Press Bureau of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) points out:

"Another imperialist plan against Cuba and its people is ongoing during the past hours. The USA, in cooperation with anti-Cuban mafia operating on its territory as well as forces within Cuba openly supporting their plans, are orchestrating protests in Cuba with anti-communist and anti-revolutionary slogans calling for the overthrow of the government. They also magnify and surround these actions with media hype through their enormous propaganda apparatus. They even call for an imperialist “humanitarian intervention” in Cuba, under the pretext of addressing the difficulties caused by the imperialist US blockade itself!

Esther Bejarano, veteran communist and Auschwitz survivor, dies at 96

Veteran German communist and a life-long anti-fascist who survived Auschwitz concentration camp, Esther Bejarano died on Saturday 10 July, aged 96.

Born in 1924 as the daughter of Jewish cantor Rudolf Loewy in French-occupied Saarlouis, the family later moved to Saarbruecken, where Bejarano enjoyed a musical and sheltered upbringing until the Nazis came to power and the city was returned to Germany in 1935.

Large political rally by Greek and Turkish communists held in Lesvos: Socialism is the future!

Under the slogan “In Greece and Turkey, the enemy is the same: NATO – governments – capitalism! Socialism is the future!”, hundreds of communists from the two countries participated in a large rally held on Saturday 10 July in Mytilene, Lesbos, 

 

The rally was organized within the framework of the 30th Anti-imperialist camp of the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE). 

"The real enemy isn't the neighboring countries, but capitalism, its monopolies and their imperialist alliances", underlined Dimitris Koutsoumbas, the General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), during his greeting speech at Sappho Square in Mytilene. 

Democracy in Germany? Communist Party's activity banned

In an urgent message to communist and workers' parties, the German Communist Party (DKP) points out:

To the Communist and Workers’ Parties

Dear Comrades!

In the following, you will find the statement of the chairman of the German Communist Party Patrik Köbele on the notification of the Federal Election Commissioner that the DKP will not be admitted to the Bundestag elections in September, and at the same time will be deprived of its status as a political party. The allegedly late submission of financial statements is used as a pretext.

The 30th Anti-imperialist camp of KNE begins in Mytilene

Under the slogan “In Greece and Turkey, the enemy is the same: NATO – governments – capitalism! Socialism is the future!”, the 30th Anti-imperialist camp of the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE) begins today, 9 July, in Mytilene, Lesvos.

The first campers arrived on Thursday at the campsite at Tsamakia, close to Mytilene, 902 portal has reported. 

A delegation of the Communist Youth of Turkey (TKG) will participate in the events of the camp, which will conclude with a large political rally on Saturday 10 July, at 8 pm, at Sappho's Square in Mytilene.

Swaziland's King Mswati III regime intensifies oppression — Communist Party statement

In a statement addressed to all communist and workers' parties, the Communist Party of Swaziland refers to the current socio-political situation in the country. The statement reads:

"The Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS) calls on all communist and workers’ parties to be alert to and to express solidarity concerning the new situation in our country, as pro-democracy protests are now gathering pace, and as the autocratic regime of Mswati III is clamping down fiercely and bloodily on its opponents.

Raffaella Carra: “I always vote communist"

Within a period of a few months Italy lost two significant artists, two great singers, two socially and politically conscious women. 

The iconic "La Rossa" Milva died on 23 April 2021 while Raffaella Carrà, the talented singer, dancer, actress and TV presenter, passed away on June 5th, aged 78. 

Raffaella Maria Roberta Pelloni, as her full name was, will be remembered as an energetic, overwhelming and ingenious personality who became one of Italy's most beloved artists in the second half of the 20th century. 

Spain's Trans Law and the political opportunism of PSOE-UP government

Spain's Minister of Equality Irene Montero (right)

The social democratic Spanish government, consisting of PSOE and Unidad Podemos (UP), has passed a draft law, known as "Trans Law", that will allow citizens aged over 14 to change their gender without evidence.

Under the proposals, citizens will be able to change their name and gender without the need for proof or witnesses. The administrative procedure will also do away with health reports and the need for medical and legal guardianship.

Cyprus: The 23rd Congress of AKEL kicked off in Nicosia

Under the slogan "Force of struggle - Force of change", the 23rd Party Congress of AKEL (Progressive Party of Working People) began its works on Friday in Nicosia, Cyprus, with the participation of more than 1,200 delegates. 

The three-day Congress will conclude on Sunday 4 July.  

The first day of the Congress included the opening address by the member of the Political Bureau of AKEL Nicos Ioannou and the introductory speech of the General Secretary of the Central Committee of AKEL Andros Kyprianou. 

Greek and Turkish young communists to meet in Lesvos

Dimitris Koutsoumbas (KKE) and Kemal Okuyan (TKP)

Greek and Turkish young communists, members and friends of the KKE and the TKP, are going to meet on July 9-11 in the island of Lesvos (Lesbos), at the 30th Anti-imperialist Camp of the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE).

KNE organizes this year's Anti-imperialist camp in Mytilene, Lesvos, under the slogan: “In Greece and Turkey, the enemy is the same: NATO – governments – capitalism! Socialism is the future!”.

The two-day events will conclude with a large political rally on Saturday 10 July, at 8 pm, at Sappho's Square in Mytilene. A speech will be delivered by Nikos Abatielos, Secretary of the Central Council of KNE. 

USA: More than 40% of Americans view socialism positively

Despite the decades of persistent and severe anti-communist propaganda by the bourgeois mechanisms in the United States of America, more than 40% of adult U.S. citizens view socialism in a positive way.

According to a recent survey conducted by Axios/Momentive, socialism has positive connotations for 41% of adult U.S. citizens, 2 per cent up since 2019.  Furthermore, Socialism has positive connotations for 60% of Black Americans, 45% of American women and 33% of non-white Republicans. Those numbers have grown over the past two years from 53%, 41% and 27%, respectively.  

Communist and Workers’ Parties strongly denounce NATO's aggressive agenda

In a joint statement Communist and Workers' Parties strongly denounce the aggressive plans of NATO confirmed in the recent Summit in Brussels and warn that the "NATO 2030" strategic agenda is a "preparation for war". The full statement reads:

The peoples must strengthen the struggle against NATO and imperialist plans

Cancel Canada Day: Communist Party of Canada says "July 1 is not a day for celebrations"

Τwo discoveries this year of the unmarked graves of hundreds of Indigenous children are sending shockwaves across Canada and throughout North American Indigenous communities. The children, who were students at residential boarding schools from the mid-1800s to mid-1900s, died far from home after having suffered brutal abuse and neglect. For decades, Indigenous children in both Canada and the United States were taken away from their families and sent to boarding schools, where they were forced to assimilate to Euro-American culture.

NATO 2030 strategy is a preparation for war, says KKE MEP

The “NATO 2030” strategy is a proof of the fierce competitions between USA-EU with Russia and China, said Communist Party of Greece MEP Kostas Papadakis during a discussion with NATO Under Secretary Mircea Geoană at the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament.

Papadakis highlighted the leading role of the Greek government in the dangerous plans of NATO and stressed that the people have the power to fight against them, by intensifying the struggle in every country for the disengagement from NATO and EU. More specifically, as 902 portal writes, the KKE MEP pointed out:

Russia: Police attacks Communist Party rally in Moscow

Photo: kommersant.ru

Following a call by the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) for a rally in Moscow on Saturday, around a thousand people gathered at the capital's Pushkinskaya Square. 

The reason for the demonstration was the decision of the Moscow authorities, according to which mandatory vaccination quotas are prescribed in the healthcare, transport and other sectors and if these are not met, companies can fire their non-vaccinated employees. 

According to the CPRF this as an unconstitutional requirement at the expense of the workers.

Book on Ernesto Che Guevara presented in Greece

The book about communist revolutionary Ernesto Che Guevara, written by Nikos Mottas, was presented during an event in Athens on June 23rd. 

The book, published by "Atexnos" publishing house, focuses to the role of Che as a leader of Cuba's Foreign Policy during the first post-revolutionary years, outlining the Argentinian communist's internationalist activity in world politics (read more here). 

Dimitris Koutsoumbas was re-elected General Secretary of the KKE

The works of the 21st Congress of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) were completed today, with the election of the new Central Committee and the Central Audit Committee.

Dimitris Koutsoumbas, the General Secretary of the CC of the Party since 2013, was re-elected in his position. 

The 21st Congress assessed the work of the Central Committee and the Party as a whole from the 20th towards the 21st Congress, examined the basic assessments on the international and domestic economic and political developments of that period, the condition of the labour–people’s movement and the Party’s tasks up until the 22nd Congress.