Friday, February 18, 2022

23rd Congress of the Communist Party of India (Marxist): Extracts from the Draft Political Resolution

Following a decision by the Central Committee, the 23rd Congress of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) will take place in Kannur, Kerala, between 6 and 10 April 2022. 
 
The Party has published the Draft Political Resolution (click here for the full text) for the upcoming Congress, extracts of which you can read below:

70 years of Greece's NATO membership: A black anniversary

By Nikos Mottas.

The 18th February marks a black anniversary for the Greek people. It was 70 years ago, in 1952, when the Greek Parliament ratified Greece's accession in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the infamous imperialist alliance of NATO

This anniversary comes in a period when the imperialist competitions in Ukraine have reached a very critical stage and the clouds of a generalized military confrontation are gathering over the broader region. 

Thursday, February 17, 2022

European Communist Initiative: "Capitalism is responsible for Covid pandemic casualties"

In a statement, the Secretariat of the Initiative of Communist and Workers' Parties (European Communist Initiative) stresses out:

The Covid-19, which was first detected in late 2019 and declared as a worldwide pandemic in March 2020, has been going on for almost two years. During this period, 271 million people were infected, and more than 5 million people died due to Covid-19. The vast majority of deaths have been in the United States, which has the most market-oriented healthcare system in the world; however, “developed” European countries with big economies also lead the ranking of deaths.

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

KKE votes against the new large armament programme, calls for Greece's disengagement from NATO-EU

On 15/2/22, the Plenary Session of the Greek Parliament approved the bill submitted by the Ministry of National Defence regarding the purchase of three French “Belharra” frigates and six “Rafale” jets (in addition to the already acquired eighteen ones). Right-wing ND, social-democratic KINAL/PASOK, and right-wing Elliniki Lysi (Greek Solution) voted in favour of the bill while social-democratic SYRIZA voted “present”.

This is another large armament programme integrated into the criminal USA–NATO–EU plans in which the local bourgeoisie is actively participating to enhance its role and business in the wider area while ND, SYRIZA, and the other bourgeois parties, despite their remarks on specific points, support its interests.

On the escalation between Euro-Atlantic powers and Russia

 By Eliseos Vagenas.

In the past weeks, the confrontation between USA–NATO–EU and Russia is sharpening, focusing on the developments in Ukraine. The verbal and diplomatic confrontation is accompanied by troops movements and major military drills by both sides as well as secret diplomacy.

This is not about the “Golden Fleece”

Today, it appears improbable that the peoples would enter a war and shed their blood for the “Golden Fleece” or “Helen of Troy”; however, the pretexts utilized to feed the monster of imperialist war have far from ceased.

Tuesday, February 15, 2022

A Leninist approach to the inter-imperialist clash in Ukraine

By Nikos Mottas.
 
“The working class”, V.I Lenin was stressing out, “in case it is conscious, will not support any group of imperialistic predators” (1). More specifically, concerning the stance of the workers' movement towards imperialists, he was using the following characteristic example:
 
“A country, let us say, possesses three-fourths of Africa, whereas another possesses one-fourth. A repartition of Africa is the objective content of their war. To which side should we wish success? It would be absurd to state the problem in its previous form, since we do not possess the old criteria of appraisal: there is neither a bourgeois liberation movement running into decades, nor a long process of the decay of feudalism. It is not the business of present-day democracy either to help the former country to assert its “right” to three-fourths of Africa, or to help the latter country (even if it is developing economically more rapidly than the former) to take over those three-fourths. Present-day democracy will remain true to itself only if it joins neither one nor the other imperialist bourgeoisie, only if it says that the two sides are equally bad, and if it wishes the defeat of the imperialist bourgeoisie in every country. Any other decision will, in reality, be national-liberal and have nothing in common with genuine internationalism. [...] In reality, there can now be no talk of present-day democracy following in the wake of the reactionary imperialist bourgeoisie, no matter of what “shade” the latter may be“ (2).

Ukraine Crisis: Statement by the World Peace Council

The World Peace Council (WPC) expresses its deepest concerns about the escalating tensions in Eastern Europe and particularly around the Ukraine, caused primarily by the growing aggressive expansion of NATO towards Eastern Europe, its massive deployment of troops from the Baltic Sea to Bulgaria, and creating a belt aiming at the encirclement of the Russian Federation.

Since the coup d’état of 2014 in Kiev and the takeover of the government by reactionary and pro-NAZI forces sponsored by the USA, NATO and the European Union, NATO has been planning and implementing its further expansion aiming at the integration of the Ukraine into the biggest war machine which has committed wars, crimes and coups throughout its history.

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. 

Monday, February 14, 2022

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.

Saturday, February 12, 2022

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.

Friday, February 11, 2022

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.

Thursday, February 10, 2022

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. 

Tuesday, February 8, 2022

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.

Monday, February 7, 2022

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. 

Sunday, February 6, 2022

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? 

Saturday, February 5, 2022

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. 

Friday, February 4, 2022

The KKE, USSR and Sergey Radchenko's anti-communism

By Nikos Mottas.

Recently, the name of Sergey Radchenko made headlines in Greece's media. A historian and professor at John Hopkins University, Radchenko posted on his personal Twitter account “declassified documents” from the Russian State Archives concerning the relations of the Communist Parties of Greece (KKE) and the Soviet Union (USSR), as well as the struggle of the communist-backed Democratic Army of Greece (DSE) during the 1946-1949 Civil War. 

Thursday, February 3, 2022

Dimitris Koutsoumbas: "Capitalist growth, by definition, is anti-popular in any management formula"

Capitalist growth, by definition, is anti-popular in any management formula, stressed Dimitris Koutsoumbas, the GS of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), speaking in Parliament on 02/02/22, noting that ND and SYRIZA with their “development” laws compete over how they will distribute billions of euros to the few by crushing the people.

Speaking about the new “development” law, he highlighted that the mockery must end and that the tale of capitalist development is the same old story that does not convince anyone. He added that growth is here, but wages —average and minimum— remain stagnant because capitalist growth is based on the intensification of the exploitation of workers.

Wednesday, February 2, 2022

PCV: Maduro government is not socialist — Socialism has never been achieved in Venezuela

"This government is not socialist and in our country Socialism has never been achieved". Interview with Pedro Eusse, member of the Political Bureau of the CC of the Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV)

Within Venezuelan politics, there are many challenges to be faced by the parties, especially those of the left which are critical of the current system of government.

Among these parties is the Communist Party with its critical voice and which currently faces the contradictions of a country that can be read from various realities.

Tuesday, February 1, 2022

Swaziland's communists debunk misleading reports by the "Times of Swaziland"

The Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS) takes this opportunity to condemn the Times of Swaziland newspaper for publishing misleading information about the CPS Summer School held 17-27 December 2021.

About two weeks ago on its Sunday edition, the Times deliberately misled its readers that it had obtained a ‘leaked’ CPS document purporting that the CPS School was attended by first year William Pitcher College students. The Times claimed that the students were trained to sabotage the state by attacking and disarming the police, cutting electricity poles, cutting water pipes, conducting money heists, among other acts.

KKE honors the victims of the Holocaust

With immense respect the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) honors the victims of the Holocaust, noted KKE MP Giannis Delis during a special session in the Parliament dedicated to the Memory of the Jewish Holocaust.

As Delis pointed out, the millions of dead Jews during the Second Imperialist World War, stand by the 20 million dead Soviet people, alongside the liberation movements of the people of Europe who fought against the occupiers, next to the victims of Kandanos, Kalavrita, Distomo, Kommeno, next to the executed fighters of Chaidari and Kesariani.