Dimitris Koutsoumbas at KNE-Odigitis festival: "The KKE is here, for the society of true freedom, for socialism!"

The third and last day of the 47th KNE-Odigitis festival in Athens, on Saturday 25th September, was concluded with a massive political event with speakers being Nikos Abatielos, Secretary of the Central Council of KNE and Dimitris Koutsoumbas, General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE). 

 

This year's festival was marked by a record attendance, with thousands of people, workers, young men and women, from every part of the Greek capital participating in the major events.

Socialism Is a Series of Communist Projects

By Charles Andrews*.

In the 1950s many workers had steady jobs with a health plan, sick leave, and annual paid vacation. They could afford to buy a home, which in parts of the country had mortgage payments as low as rent. It was a dramatic change from the Great Depression of the 1930s. 

What did tomorrow hold? The outlook was vague but good. Neither the capitalist class, its government officials, nor church leaders offered a definite vision of the future. Very few people sought out the left.

Italy: Solidarity with Alitalia workers!

Hundreds of striking air workers blocked the highway to Rome's Fiumicino airport on Friday demonstrating against the government's plans to cut jobs in the transition between Alitalia and a new carrier dubbed ITA. 

Italian police forces responded with violence to the workers' protesting at the highway. 

Unions say that only 2,800 out of a total of nearly 11,000 employees of Alitalia will be immediately re-hired by ITA and that the labour contract offered by ITA will be less generous than the one of Alitalia.

German elections: The workers must strengthen the DKP!

The 2021 German Federal election (Bundestagswahl 2021) is expected to be held on Sunday 26 September to elect members of the 20th Bundestag. On the same day, state elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern are going to be held. 

Although the election process in bourgeois democracy is certainly not an instrument for revolutionary change, the working men and women of Germany have on Sunday an extraordinary opportunity: To strengthen their own voice, by voting the German Communist Party (DKP). 

KNE-Odigitis Festival kicked off in Athens (Drone video)

Thousands of people of every age, from every part of Athens, attended the events of the first day of the 47th KNE-Odigitis Festival which kicked off yesterday at Tritsis multidisciplinacy park. 

Numerous cultural and political events took place on Thursday, including a music concert by popular singer George Dalaras dedicated to the late iconic composer Mikis Theodorakis, stand up comedy, concerts at the student's stage, as well as a theatrical performance about the Paris Commune and a discussion on the situation in Afghanistan. 

The legalization of the KKE in 1974

By Nikos Mottas

It was on 23 September 1974 when the Greek government of “national unity”, under Konstantine Karamanlis, was publicly announcing the legalization of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) after 27 years. Alongside with the legislative decree, the government was repealing the infamous Law 509/1947 which was a source of persecutions, exiles, tortures and executions of thousands of communists during the post-war years. 

On 25 September 1974 the front page of “Rizospastis”, the official organ of the KKE, was dominated by the Greeting Message of the Central Committee to the working class, the peasantry, the whole people. Here is a significant excerpt of the message:

Greece: Thousands delivery workers rallied against "e-food" blackmails

Thousands food-delivery workers held massive moto-protests in Athens, Thessaloniki and other cities all over Greece demanding Jobs with rights and permanent contracts against the threats and blackmails of the company "e-food" (subsidiary of the German multinational "Delivery Hero") which threatened the workers with a text to their phones either to accept becoming a “freelancer” or to be fired by not renewing the three-month contracts.

Communist Party of Mexico bids farewell to long-time cadre Héctor Colío Galindo

Héctor Colío Galindo, a militant communist and long-time cadre of the Communist Party of Mexico, has died of Covid-19 on September 21, his Party announced. 

In a statement issued today, the Communist Party (PCM) bids farewell to comrade Héctor Colío Galindo.

Héctor Colío Galindo was Secretary General of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Mexico in 1999-2000 and in 2001-2003. He was born on August 1, 1951 in Mexico City, and at the age of 17, in 1968, he began his militancy. As a communist youth leader, he was one of those responsible for the activity of the World Federation of Democratic Youth in Mexico, and as such one of the members of the International Organizing Committee of the XI World Festival of Youth and Students.

Australian communists condemn AUKUS agreement

In a statement about the tripartite Agreement between the Governments of Australia, the United States and Britain (AUKUS), the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Australia (CPA) points out the following:

"The Communist Party of Australia urges all its members and supporters to actively oppose the Morrison Government’s decision to join the AUKUS Agreement; to buy nuclear-powered submarines; to purchase cruise missiles and other offensive weapons; and for Australia to host more US troops, warships, weapons, and planes. The announcement was made at the 31st Australia-United States Ministerial Consultation in Washington. 

Russia: Communist Party gets big boost in elections

The Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) is considered the big winner of the 2021 legislative elections despite the victory of Vladimir Putin's governing United Russia party.  

 

Russian authorities have been accused of large-scale vote rigging in the election process over the weekend, while the Kremlin denies the allegations.

With 95.05% of the voting results processed, CPRF gains 19.20% of the votes, while the United Russia party secures 49.63% of the ballots on the party list to the State Duma (lower house of parliament).

Thousands of people attended KNE Festival in Thessaloniki

It was one of the largest festivals organized by the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE) in Thessaloniki, Greece's second largest city, during the last 30 years. Thousands of people of every age visited the KNE-Odigitis Festival which was organized on September 16-18 at the open space of Karatasou multidisciplinacy park under the slogan "live, dare, move on - for the society of true freedom, Socialism".

The General Secretary of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Dimitris Koutsoumbas visited the festival on Thursday 16 September, while the central political event took place on Friday with a speech delivered by the KKE Political Bureau member Kyrillos Papastavrou. 

"No to AUKUS, war and imperialism", says Britain's YCL

The Central Committee of the Young Communist League of Britain (YCL) has issued the following statement in response to the announcement of the new AUKUS (Australia-UK-US) nuclear aggression pact.

The YCL completely opposes the reckless and aggressive actions of Boris Johnson’s Tory Government, at the command of their US puppet masters in the White House and the Pentagon, to create a new hostile pact aimed at attacking China and exerting imperialist control over South East Asia.

Anti-imperialist protest against NATO Military Committee summit in Athens

“Neither soil nor water to the murderers of the people”. With this slogan, thousands of working men and women, trade unions, the Greek Committee for International Detente and Peace (EEDYE), the Federation of Greek Women (OGE) and students' unions marched on Friday in Athens against NATO's Military Committee which convenes in the Greek capital on 17-19 September.

The protesters gathered at Eleftherias Square and then marched towards the U.S. embassy, denouncing the strengthening of the so-called Greece-USA “defense agreement” which turns the country into a vast US-NATO military base. The demonstrators called for the decisive organization of the struggle against the dangerous policy of the Greek government, against the country's involvement in the US-NATO imperialist plans which pose grave threats for the people. 

Russia Duma elections: Communist Party (CPRF) denounces law violations and censorship

Parliamentary and local elections began on Friday in Russia and will last three days. Voters are electing 450 MPs for the Duma (parliament) in Moscow and a number of cities have introduced electronic voting. 

President Vladimir Putin's United Russia party is expected to win despite the decline of popularity in the last few years. 

In a statement the International Department of the CC of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) denounces attacks on the party, law violations by the government and censorship by mass media. The full statement is the following:

KKE MEP denounces EU machinations against Cuba

Once again, the European Union and its mechanisms play a leading role in promotin counterrevolutionary “voices” against Cuba. This time, the anti-Cuban show was staged at the EU Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) under the mantle of “activism” and with the known pretexts of “democracy” and “human rights”.

In his intervention, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) MEP Kostas Papadakis strongly denounced the anti-communist provocations against Cuba. More specifically, the KKE eurodeputy said:

Communist employees turn London arms fair upside down

Employees organized a surprise protest at an arms fair in London, by setting off flares and smoke grenades during the event. 

The men were working at the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) arms fair at the ExCeL in east London when they set off the flares.

In footage posted by the Young Communist League (YCL), the protesters stood on a carpet outside a stall for security firm Lockheed Martin while dressed in high-viz jackets. They then lifted their arms in the air and set off their smoke grenades as men dressed in suits shuffled past.   

Communist Party of Venezuela: Maduro government returns to the IMF, gives in to imperialism

In a statement concerning the second round of negotiations between the social democratic government of Nicolas Maduro and the pro-US opposition in Mexico, the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV) points out:

"The second round of negotiations between the two opposing groups of the national bourgeoisie took place in Mexico from September 3 to 6. Both sides have announced two initial partial agreements as being a great advance for the interests of the country and the Venezuelan people. One agreement refers to "the defense of the sovereignty of Venezuela over the Essequibo Strip" while the other comes under the title of "an agreement for the social protection of the Venezuelan people”. 

Abimael Guzmán, leader of Peru's Shining Path, dies at 86

Abimael Guzmán, the historic leader of the Shining Path, died on Saturday at the age of 86 in Peru while serving a life sentence in the maximum security prison of the Callao Naval Base.

Also known by the name "comrade Gonzalo," Guzmán died due to a generalized infection at the Naval Hospital, where he was being treated for deterioration in his health.

A former philosophy professor, he had been serving a life sentence for terrorism and treason since 1992. In 1969 Abimael Guzmán and 11 others founded the Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso in Spanish), a guerrilla group of Maoist influences which tried to lead a "people's war" to overthrow Peru's bourgeois democracy. 

Big rally by TKP in Istanbul: Now is the time for socialism!

Photo: sol.org.tr

Under the slogan "Now is the time for socialism", thousands of people, men and women of every age, gathered at Kartal Square, Istanbul, in order to attend the rally organized by the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP). 

Speaking at the rally, TKP Secretary General Kemal Okuyan said among others: "We are a family, a growing family that fights against lies and exploitation. TKP is acting with great self-confidence at its 101st year, it is spreading and growing. Come and be a part of this struggle, if you are still not in the ranks of the TKP. We are the future of Turkey". 

Stop violence against communists in India!

In a statement the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) condemns the recent violent incidents unleashed against the Party premises in the state of Tripura by right-wing mobs:

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) strongly condemns the violence unleashed in Tripura by the ruling party, the BJP, against the CPI(M) and the Left Front. 

In a pre-planned fashion, the offices of the CPI(M), including the state headquarters, were attacked by mobs of BJP men.  Among the offices which were damaged or burnt down are the Udaipur sub-divisional office, Gomati district committee office, Sepahijala district committee office, Bishalgarh sub-divisional committee office, West Tripura district committee office and the Sadar sub-divisional committee office. 

Greece: Thousands joined PAME rally, sent powerful message to Mitsotakis' government

Thousands of workers, self-employed people, farmers, pensioners, young men and women participated on Saturday evening in a massive rally organized by the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) and Trade Unions on the occasion of the inauguration of the 85th Thessaloniki International Fair by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Under the slogan “Only the people can save the people. The justified indignation must become a force of organization and struggle”, numerous protesters from Thessaloniki and the broader region of Central Macedonia sent a militant message to the ND government and the employers. 

"As long as the Soviet Union existed no one was hungry"

A white t-shirt with the initials of the Soviet Union in Russian (CCCP) and the sickle and hammer were enough to infuriate anti-communists in social media. 

Julia Nova, a Greek model and TV presenter (photo), decided to share with her followers the happiness of pregnancy by uploading a photo on her Instagram profile account. 

The photo of her wearing a t-shirt with the "USSR" initials on it provoked the angry reaction of anti-communists, right-wingers and various social media trolls who attacked her. Julia, who is of Ukrainian origin, became the target of rude and derisive comments by some users who apparently can't stand in the view of the sickle and hammer.

Portugal: Festa do Avante! 2021 successfully held in Seixal

The Avante! Festival, the annual festival organized by the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP), took place with remarkable success on the 3rd, 4th and 5th of September at Quinta da Atalaia, Seixal, with the participation of thousands of people and more than 40 international representations of communist parties and other progressive forces from 4 continents.

In his speech on September 5th, the General Secretary of the Communist Party Jerónimo de Sousa stated: 

Communists of the world bid farewell to Mikis Theodorakis

Communist Parties from Russia to Chile and from Turkey to Mexico express their condolences for the death of the legendary Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis who died on September 2nd aged 96. 

In a message published on Twitter the President of the Republic of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez pays tribute to the late composer: 

"Mikis Theodorakis died and the world accompanies the mourning of Greece for one of the greatest musicians of all times. Cuba, which always had his militant solidarity, also mourns. Let the Canto General sound in his memory". 

Ukrainian communist leader Tamila Yabrova dies

Tamila Yabrova, President of the Union of Communists of Ukraine, editor-in-chief of the journal "Marxism and Modernity", passed away on September 3rd. Her death was announced by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE).

Yabrova was an economist who fought passionately against the counter-revolutionary process in the Soviet Union which led to the restoration of capitalism. She participated actively in the "Marxist Platform of the CPSU" movement and in the effort for the re-organization of the communist movement in the territories of the USSR.

Mikis Theodorakis: I want to leave this world as a communist

Mikis Theodorakis, anticipating the end of his life, had contacted by telephone the Secretary General of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Greece, Dimitris Koutsoumbas, giving him the stigma of his last wishes.

In his personal letter on October 5, 2020, to Dimitris Koutsoumbas, he wrote: "Now at the end of my life, at the time of reckoning, the details fade from my mind and remain the big picture. So I see that my most critical, strong and mature years were spent under the banner of the KKE. That is why I want to leave this world as a communist."

Statement of the KKE on the death of Mikis Theodorakis

In a lengthy statement, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) pays farewell to Mikis Theodorakis, the world-renowned  Greek composer who died on Thursday morning aged 96. 

 

Statements concerning the death of Mikis were also issued by the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE), the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME), the National Union of Fighters of the National Resistance and the Democratic Army of Greece (PEAEA– DSE), Trade Unions and Associations.

The full statement of the KKE reads:

Turkish Communist Party calls for rally in Istanbul on 12th September: Şimdi sosyalizm zamanı!

The Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) has called for a rally in Kartal Square, Istanbul, on Sunday, September 12, 2021, saying, "Do not delay, do not linger, do not settle for less!” The statement said, "If we do not want to live in a country where our resources are plundered, people become worthless and nature is slaughtered for the sake of profit, we must get rid of this order first.”

The statement of TKP, which said, "This country has not a day left to lose," is as follows;

Afghanistan Crisis: Statements by Communist Parties

Since the beginning of the rapid developments in Afghanistan and the comeback of Taliban in the power, Communist and Workers' Parties from all over the world have issued statements concerning the situation in the country. 

 

The vast majority of statements refer to the disastrous role of US-EU imperialism, the military intervention in 2001, as well as the immense responsibilities of the U.S. and European governments for supporting the rise of Taliban in the 1980s, primary in the war against the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. 

Read here the statement of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE). 

All Greek governments supported the imperialist wars in Afghanistan, says KKE MEP

The hypocrisy of the U.S, NATO and EU, as well as the responsibilities of the Greek governments for the current situation in Afghanistan were highlighted by the Communist Party (KKE) MEP Kostas Papadakis during an interview on “Real FM” radio on Tuesday 24 August.

Papadakis, who is also a member of the Central Committee of the KKE, pointed out that those powers which today present Taliban as potential partners are the same ones which, some years ago, presented them as a threat and used them for reactionary changes against the Afghan people. The KKE MEP said that these powers financed and equipped Taliban in the war against the Soviet Union and the people's revolution in Afghanistan. 

Swaziland's dictatorship intensifies brutality against anti-monarchy protesters

On Sunday night, 15 August 2021, King Mswati’s soldiers tossed a young man, Mcebo Mamba, into a raging fire and severely assaulted him with sjamboks.

The assault followed a protest action in Zombodze Emuva in the Shiselweni region, Swaziland, also known as Eswatini. During the protest, burning tyres had been placed on the road. The soldiers picked on Mamba, without any evidence as to his involvement in the burning and forced him into the fire.

Former KKE MP Antonis Skyllakos dies at 72

Antonis Skyllakos, a long time cadre of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and former MP, died today aged 72 after a heart attack. 

Born in Larissa in 1949, Skyllakos studied Law in Athens and participated actively in the anti-dictatorship movement. In 1974 he joined the Communist Youth (KNE) and in 1975 he became member of the KKE. 

He was a member of the Party's Central Committee from 1982 to 2009. 

Britain's Young Communist League holds its 50th Congress

Under the slogan "Our Congress, Our Struggle, Our Future", the Young Communist League of Britain (YCL), the youth wing of the Communist Party of Britain which was founded 100 years ago, in 1921, holds its 50th Congress this weekend.

On this occasion, the following article written by YCL's General Secretary Johnnie Hunter was published in "Challenge" magazine:

"Greetings and solidarity to all of the delegates attending the YCL’s historic 50th Congress this weekend at Ruskin House and to all the comrades and branches who have participated in Congress debate and discussion this year from the length and breadth of Britain.

Venezuelan communists on Maduro-opposition talks: A deal between elites

Nicolas Maduro and US-backed Juan Guaido.

In a statement concerning the talks between representatives of the Maduro government and the US-backed right-wing opposition in Mexico City, the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV) talks about "deal between elites", denouncing the procedure as a "farce of a dialogue". The full statement of PCV is the following:

The Deal between Elites has been Consolidated in Mexico

Communist Parties of India: Joint statement on the situation in Afghanistan

In face of the situation in Afghanistan, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Communist Party of India (CPI) have issued the following joint statement: 

On Afghanistan Situation 

The United States has suffered a humiliating defeat in Afghanistan. Twenty years after the toppling of the then Taliban regime, the Taliban are back in power. The collapse of the Ashraf Ghani led government and the National Army shows the hollowness of the nature of the State set up by the US and it's NATO allies. 

KKE statement on the developments in Afghanistan

Concerning the developments in Afghanistan and the resurgence of Taliban, the Press Bureau of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) issued the following statement:

The rapid developments in Afghanistan following the collapse of the puppet government, which had emerged in the country after the imperialist intervention of the US, NATO, and their allies, and the rise to power of the Taliban obscurantist movement, which had multifarious support initially by the USA and other capitalist powers, show that the suffering of the Afghan people is endless.

Afghanistan: Taliban resurgence is a "made in USA" tragedy

By Nikos Mottas.

Chaos in Kabul as Taliban retake Afghanistan. Twenty years since the US-NATO imperialist intervention in the country, the consequences for the Afghani people are more than devastating. The slogans of “freedom”, “security”, “democracy” and “peace”, which the U.S imperialists and their allies used as a pretext for the 2001 military invasion, within the framework of the so-called “War against Terrorism”, were proved empty promises. 

India's 75th Independence Day: Article by D Raja

Our Independence and India Today

By D. Raja.

On this day of August 15, more than seven decades back, in 1947, our nation began her tryst with destiny. The political independence achieved by us is the result of decades of struggles by the people of our country. Recognising the exploitative nature of the British rule, people in various parts of our country started resisting the exploitation by colonial masters themselves much before organised platforms or political parties to lead them came into existence. People fought against British forces along with their native collaborators simultaneously at times. These spontaneous uprisings were ruthlessly suppressed leaving an indelible print on the collective memory of the people.

Lebanese Communist Party denounces attacks against the popular movement in Lebanon

In a letter published in solidnet.org, the Lebanese Communist Party shares information about the latest developments in the country, a year after the huge explosion in Beirut port. The letter reads:

Dear comrades and friends,

We send you this letter to inform you about the latest developments in Lebanon, especially after the brutal attack by the “Lebanese Forces”, a fascist party/militia in Lebanon against the demonstrators during the commemoration of the 1^st anniversary of the Beirut port huge explosion on August 4^th of 2020.

Cuba's example shone in Tokyo Olympics with 15 medals

 By Nikos Mottas

The performance of the Cuban athletes who took part in the XXXII Olympiad in Tokyo and achieved a total of 15 medals causes admiration and pride. 

Leaving behind much larger countries with rich tradition in sports, the small socialist Cuba with a population of 11 million people ranked 14th in the Olympic medal list, winning seven gold, three silver and five bronze medals.

Of course, this is not the first time that Cuba performs great in the Olympics; For many decades, despite the genocidal economic, trade and financial blockade imposed by the United States, the Island of the Revolution has triumphed in multiple Olympiads.

Greece fires: The KKE exposes the criminal responsibilities of all governments

“The responsible ones and the reason are known. The responsibilities of all governments are timeless”, says the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) concerning the ongoing disastrous fires of the last days in Evia, Attica and Peloponnese.

With info-graphics published on social media, the KKE exposes the responsibilities of all the Greek governments (both liberal and social democratic), including those of PASOK, New Democracy and SYRIZA. 

Tokyo Olympics: IOC's refusal to honor Hiroshima-Nagasaki bomb victims is a huge shame

The refusal of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to participate in the commemorative events for the 76th anniversary of the nuclear holocaust in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, consists an immense insult to the memory of the thousands of bomb's victims as well as to the Japanese people in general. 

Furthermore, the IOC decided not to call on athletes and officials to have a moment of silence during the Games at Olympic venues and elsewhere on August 6th, the day when the U.S. dropped the atomic bomb in Hiroshima 76 years ago. 

Greece fires: Remarks by the KKE General Secretary Dimitris Koutsoumbas

Extensive fires have raged in many parts of Greece, including in the outskirts of Athens, the island of Evia (Euboea) and Peloponnese with thousands of people fleeing as protracted heat wave turned forests into tinderboxes and flames threatened populated areas, electricity installations and historic sites. 

In a statement, the General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Dimitris Koutsoumbas said:

“The members and the friends of the KKE, its deputies and those elected to regional and municipal councils are in battle positions against the wildfires, by the side of the people who are being tested once again.

Greek Communist Party MEP confirms solidarity with the government and people of Cuba

The member of the European Parliament, Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos, from the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), considers that the "long resistance of the Cuban people and their struggle against imperialist aggressiveness is an inspiration to the peoples of the whole world."

Today, when a political-media operation and destabilizing attempts orchestrated from the United States take place over Cuba, the Greek MEP reaffirms, in an exclusive interview, his "firm solidarity with the people, the Government and the Communist Party of Cuba" and his conviction of that "Cuba is not alone!", that "Cuba will win!"

South African Communist Party celebrates its centenary

The weekend 30 July – 1 August 2021 marks the 100th anniversary of the founding conference of the South African Communist Party (SACP) as the Communist Party of South Africa.

The SACP held a Special Centenary Central Committee meeting on Monday, 26 July 2021. The meeting discussed the current political situation in our country and the SACP Centenary Statement to be delivered by the Party General Secretary Dr Blade Nzimande on Sunday, 1 August 2021, during a hybrid rally scheduled to celebrate the 100th founding anniversary of the Party.