Thoughts prompted by the film "The Young Karl Marx"

By Nikos Mottas.

“Der junge Karl Marx” (The Young Karl Marx) is a historical drama that covers the revolutionary, theoretical and political activity of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in the period from 1843 to 1847. This is the period when Marx and Engels began the joint work which became the foundation of the scientific worldview of the proletariat.

Within the limited framework of a film, Raoul Peck tries his best in order to present both the rich theoretical work of the two revolutionary thinkers as well as their militant activity. Despite the difficulty of the task the director uses effectively the powerful tools provided by cinema as a means of disseminating ideas. 

Iraq Crisis: Communist Party calls for early elections organised by an independent interim government

The Iraqi Communist Party has called for the organisation of fair and honest early elections that express the true will of the Iraqi people, to be organised by an independent interim government.

The Political Bureau of the party said in a statement that it issued yesterday, 27th July 2022: "At a time when the repercussions of the political impasse and their negative repercussions on the stability of the country and people's lives and livelihoods are intensifying, we hold the forces that still adhere to ethno-sectarian power-sharing as a system for managing the state fully responsible. 

Brazil presidential election: Meet the Communist Party candidates Sofia Manzano and Antônio Alves

The Brazilian Communist Party (PCB) has presented its pre-candidates for the presidential election of October 2nd. Sofia Manzano, professor and economist, is the presidential nominee and Antonio Alves, trade unionist, has been selected as the candidate vice president. 

 

The PCB candidates have presented an anti-capitalist political program while engaging in dialogue with workers throughout Brazil about their needs and demands. 

Russia: Communist local deputy fined for appealing to Putin for peace

On May 27th, Communist lawmakers in Russia's far east Primorye region expressed their disagreement over the imperialist war in Ukraine and called President Vladimir Putin to end the military campaign (read here).

We demand the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine. We demand an end to military action”, legislative assembly member Leonid Vasyukevich had said during a session. Vasyukevich, member of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) back then, said continuing Russia’s three-month campaign in Ukraine “would lead to an imminent increase in military deaths and injuries.” "During a military operation, people become disabled. These are young people who could be of great use to our country," he added.  

Italy: Massive rally in Piacenza against the persecution of trade unionists

With a massive demonstration held in Piacenza, in Italy's northern region of Emilia Romagna, thousands of workers, men and women, people of every age, demanded the release of the eight trade unionists of Si Cobas and USB who remain under house arrest.

The trade unionists were placed under house arrest and searched on July 19th, based on a 350-page indictment of the Piacenza Public Prosecutor’s Office against USB and Si Cobas unions. 

Venezuela: New anti-communist attack against the PCV and the workers' movement

In a statement titled "Fresh anti-communist attack against the PCV and the workers' movement", the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV) denounces the new aggression of Venezuela's state authorities against the Party and the workers' mobilizations. 

The full statement reads:

On July 21, the Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV) was the object of a new aggression that demonstrates the Nicolas Maduro government's repressive escalation against the struggles of the workers' and popular movement that confronts the neo-liberal adjustment and government policies that destroy workers' wages. 

Tudeh Party of Iran: Message of the 7th Congress to the communist and workers parties of the world

Message of the 7th Congress of the Tudeh Party of Iran to the Communist and Workers Parties of the world:  

There needs to be a widening of international solidarity with the Iranian people's struggle for freedom, independence, social justice, peace, and national sovereignty!

Dear Comrades, 

Delegates participating in the 7th Congress of the Tudeh Party of Iran extend their warm fraternal greetings to the communist and workers parties (CWPs) of the world who have supported the struggles of the working-class and working people of our country in defence of peace, progress, and democratic rights and freedoms overt he recent difficult and turbulent decades. 

Ukrainian death-list "myrotvorets" must close down!

By Nikos Mottas.

For almost eight years now, the Ukrainian state fosters and promotes the unacceptable and dangerous targeting of persons who are regarded as “enemies of Ukraine” by the government which emerged after the 2014 coup. 

The targeting takes place through the infamous, Kyiv-based website "myrotvorets.center" (“Peacemaker”) which publishes personal information, including photos, home addresses, social media accounts, etc, of people who are labelled as “persona non grata” by the far-right Ukrainian establishment.

KKE: Hands off the communists of Venezuela! Solidarity with the Communist Party of Venezuela

In a statement, the International Relations Section of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) denounces the attack of Venezuelan police authorities against a workers' demonstration in Caracas and expresses its solidarity with the Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV) and the country's popular-labour movement. 

Hands off the communists of Venezuela!

Solidarity with the Communist Party of Venezuela and the labour–popular movement of Venezuela

Ukraine and Russia governments unleash attack against workers' rights

Presidents Zelensky and Putin, both enemies of the working class.

In the midst of the imperialist war, the governments of Ukraine and Russia are promoting and implementing bills that undermine the rights of the workers in favor of the big capital.

Ukraine's Parliament Verkhovna Rada has passed two bills that obliterate workers' rights to collective bargaining and other fundamental labor protections, and allow employers to put up to 10% of their workforce on “zero hour” contracts leaving them without any control over their working lives. 

Communist Party of India (Marxist): Growing assaults on people’s livelihood by Modi government

The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met in New Delhi on July 16. It has issued the following statement:

Growing assaults on people’s livelihood

World Bank data shows that the annual growth of the Indian economy over 2020-22 was a mere 0.8 per cent.

PAME denounces the attempts to criminalise trade union action in Italy

In a statement the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) stresses out: 

In Italy the USB and Si Cobas unions are facing a 350-page indictment by the Piagenza Public Prosecutor’s Office in which the unions and trade unionists are accused of “crimes” such as picketing strikes, protests and mobilisations in the logistics sector. 

On the basis of this indictment, a police operation has been carried out since this morning with searches of trade unionists’ homes and the arrest of 4 USB trade unionists.

George Orwell, an anti-communist traitor

By Nikos Mottas.

A few days ago, the name of George Orwell came to the spotlight during a discussion in the Greek Parliament. In one of their usual dogfights, Prime Minister Mitsotakis and major opposition-Syriza leader Tsipras referred to Orwell's concept of “totalitarianism” in order to attack each other. Mitsotakis quoted the novelist's aversion towards “left totalitarianism”, while Tsipras replied that his party has always been critical towards the actually existing socialism. Their reference to Orwell is no accidental: Despite their particular differences, bourgeois politicians find themselves on the same camp when it comes to anti-communism. 

Cuban revolutionary Jose Ramon Balaguer dies at 90

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Saturday lamented the death of Commander Jose Ramon Balaguer at the age of 90. 

On behalf of his comrades of the @PCC, which he gave prestige with his exemplarity, and the people of #Cuba, to which he devoted his life tirelessly, our heartfelt embrace to the family and friends of Commander Jose Ramon Balaguer Cabrera, the president wrote on his Twitter account.

South African Communist Party elects Solly Mapaila as new General Secretary

Solly Mapaila (left) with former General Secretary Blade Nzimande.

Solly Mapaila, who served as the second Deputy General Secretary from 2012 to 2017, replaces Blade Nzimande as the new General Secretary of the South African Communist Party (SACP) following a vote by the 15th National Congress. 

Mapaila has expressed vocal opposition against corruption and was among the leaders who called former South African President Jacob Zuma to resign before the end of his term. 

Nzimande, the Party's long-time General Secretary since 1998 was elected Chairperson. 

Ástor García: "To deny the imperialist nature of Russia today is to deny reality"

The following speech was delivered by Ástor García, General Secretary of Communist party of the Workers of Spain (PCTE) at the quadripartite meeting held on 8th of July 2022 in Athens:

Comrades,

We are holding this important meeting in an especially difficult moment for class struggle. The imperialist war being waged in Ukraine is the key element that determines all the other issues and, from our viewpoint, it is a turning point in the international scene with important outcomes in the domestic spheres of our countries.

Cuba's Communist Party and KKE reaffirm fraternal relations during meeting in Havana

A meeting between the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) and the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) was held yesterday in Havana. 

 

The member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Cuba and Vice President of the Council of State, Roberto Morales Ojeda, received a delegation from the KKE, headed by Giorgos Marinos, member of the Political Bureau and MP.

Morales Ojeda expressed his gratitude for the firm position of the KKE in defense of the Revolution, as well as for the persistent struggle against the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the U.S on the island. 

Communist Party of Mexico: No more confidence in the government of López Obrador!

In a recent statement, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Mexico refers to the deterioration of the living standards of the country's working class and underlines the necessity of an offensive against the rule of capital and the social democratic government of Andrés Manuel López Obrador. 

The statement reads:

At the beginning of the year, there was a sharp increase in the cost of living, which reached about 7%. In this situation, the 2022 wage increase did not have a significant effect, and there are still workers who have not yet received the wage change. This implied a higher cost for the workers, who were also affected by the loss of benefits and working conditions during the pandemic. 

This has forced workers to cut back on consumption of some goods and services, or to work even longer hours to maintain their real incomes. Halfway through the year, inflation is considered by specialists to be uncontrollable, as it is currently around 7.5 per cent, but is expected to reach 10 per cent by the end of the year. In concrete terms, the basic food basket has shot up to 27% and this is taking its toll on the pockets of working families.

Joint Statement of the General Secretaries of the CP of Greece, Mexico, Workers of Spain, Turkey

On 8 July 2022, a quadripartite meeting between the CP of Greece (KKE), the CP of Mexico (PCM), the CP of the Workers of Spain (PCTE), and the CP of Turkey (TKP) was held in Athens, at the headquarters of the CC of the KKE.

After the meeting, the General Secretaries of the 4 CPs issued the following statement:

“During our meeting on 8/7/22 in Athens, we had the opportunity to exchange opinions on the developments at international and national level, the situation formed due to the imperialist war in Ukraine, and the multifaceted anti-popular and anti-labour attack under the conditions of the so-called Green transition, of the energy crisis and a possible food crisis, essentially of the impending economic recession and crisis. 

Union of Communists of Ukraine: On the War and the tasks of the working class

The following statement-analysis by the Union of Communists of Ukraine was originally appeared in Russian language in solidnet.org (27 June 2022). It is the first public statement of the Union of Communists for the imperialist war in Ukraine, while the Communist Party of Ukraine has not so far issued any communique. Both political forces have been banned in Ukraine and are currently facing multiple persecutions.

The full statement is as follows:

The general assessment of the nature of the war launched under the guise of a special military operation (SMO) by the Union of Communists of Ukraine (UCU) generally coincides with the Statement of the Communist and Workers' Parties of February 24, 2022, supported by the UCU.

KKE expresses full solidarity with the workers-people's struggle in Sri Lanka

On the occasion of the large demonstrations in Sri Lanka, the Press Office of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) pointed out on 9 July:

“The KKE expresses its full solidarity to the great struggle of the working class of Sri Lanka. It condemns the brutal crackdown against the mass popular mobilizations which consist a decisive response to the rise in prices, the shortages in basic goods, the generalization of the people's impoverishment. It supports the struggle of the People's Liberation Front (JVP), the country's communists, for the overthrow of the anti-people policy and the defense of the workers and people's rights”. 

Greek soldier punished because he publicly expressed anti-NATO views

A soldier of the National Militia Battalion in the Greek island of Rhodes was punished by his unit because he expressed views against NATO, USA and the EU, 902 portal reported. More specifically, the soldier published a letter in which he opposes Greece's participation in the dangerous US-NATO imperialist plans and the country's involvement in the Ukraine war.

In a statement, the Solidarity Committee for the Rights of the Conscripts strongly denounces the decision to punish the soldier, underlines the responsibility of the Government and especially the Ministry of Defence and calls for the immediate revocation of the sentence. 

Massive internationalist rally of the KKE in Volos sends powerful anti-imperialist message

A large political event, organized by the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), took place on Saturday afternoon in the city of Volos. Thousands of KKE members and friends, workers, young men and women, flocked the central promenade of the city, holding banners and flags and shouting anti-imperialist slogans. 

The event marked the culmination of the festivities of the 31st Anti-imperialist Camp of the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE) which takes place in the seaside village of Nies, Central Greece.  

Solidarity with Roofers Local 36 of Los Angeles, USA and Cliff Smith

In a statement, the All-Workers’ Militant Front (PAME) expresses the solidarity of the class unions of Greece with the Roofers Local 36 of Los Angeles, USA and the unionist Cliff Smith who are being threatened and blackmailed for leading the struggles and mobilizations for the rights of the working class in their region:

To Cliff Smith
Roofers Local 36 Business Manager
To Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers

Speech by Dimitris Koutsoumbas, General Secretary of the KKE, at the quadripartite meeting of the 8th of July

On 8 July 2022, a quadripartite meeting between the CP of Greece, the CP of Mexico, the CP of the Workers of Spain, and the CP of Turkey was held in Athens, at the headquarters of the CC of the KKE. The opening speech of Dimitris Koutsoumbas, GS of the CC of the KKE reads as follows:

“Dear comrades,

We are always happy to welcome the delegates of fraternal Communist Parties at the headquarters of the CC of the KKE. All the more so today, after the pandemic, which had limited our in-person multilateral contact.

KKE MEP: The Euro-Atlantic camp and capitalist Russia are complicit in war massacres

On Wednesday 6 July, a discussion titled “The relations of the Russian government and diplomatic network with parties of extremist, populist, anti-European and certain other European political parties in the context of the war” took place at the plenary of the European Parliament in Strasbourg. 

 

In his short and well pointed intervention, the MEP of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos stressed out the following:

British communists on Johnson government's collapse: "Downing Street change not enough"

"The rats are jumping the Johnson ship – but a change of Conservative leaders will not alter the government’s pro-big business, anti-democratic, racist and war mongering agenda", Tony Conway told the Communist Party’s political committee on Tuesday evening (July 5).

As the news of ministerial resignations broke, Britain’s Communists called for a united response from trade unions and campaigning movements to the cost of living, housing, climate change and food crises.

Ukraine court confirms ban on the Communist Party, orders its property's seizure

In what seems to be a further escalation of anti-communist terrorism in Ukraine, the Eighth Administrative Court of Appeal completed yesterday, 5th of July, the consideration of administrative case No. 826/9751/14 on the banning of the Communist Party of Ukraine.

"The court has satisfied the claims of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine: the activities of the Communist Party of Ukraine have been banned; the property, funds and other assets of the party, its regional, city, district organizations, primary centers and other structural entities have been transferred to the ownership of the state," a statement published in Ukrinform reads. 

Quadripartite meeting of Communist Parties of Greece, Spain, Mexico and Turkey to be held in Athens

A quadripartite meeting between the Communist Parties of Greece (KKE), Workers of Spain (PCTE), Mexico (PCM) and Turkey (TKP) is going to be held on Friday 8 July in Athens. 

The theme of the meeting, which will take place at the KKE Party headquarters in Perissos, is "We strengthen the workers-people's struggle against the imperialist war and capital's attack, for socialism". According to Rizospastis, all the four parties will be represented by their heads. More specifically, the participant comrades are:

KKE condemns the bomb attack at CPI(M) headquarters

On June 1st, unidentified cowards attacked the Kerala state committee headquarters of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Thiruvananthapuram. Police said the explosive substance was hurled at the AKG Centre, situated in the heart of Thiruvananthapuram, by a motorbike-borne man at around 11.30 pm.

In a statement the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) strongly condemned the bomb attack and expressed confidence that “the state government will investigate thoroughly and punish the culprits. 

Kononovich brothers courtroom appeal: “Our case is completely fabricated from start to finish"

The trial of Mikhail and Aleksander Kononovich began in the Solomensky District Court of Kyiv on July 1st, without the physical presence of the defenders but via teleconference.

Under the pretext of false and groundless accusations, the two brothers, members of the Leninist Communist Youth Union of Ukraine  were arrested on March 7th, 2022 and tortured in a Kiev detention center.

Since then, numerous Communist Parties and Youth organizations from all over the world, including the World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY) have demanded their immediate release. The EU Parliament Group of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) has already submitted two written questions (first and second) to the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs concerning the case of Kononovich brothers.

Cuba bids farewell to Major General Lopez-Calleja

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Friday mourned the death of Major General Luis Alberto Rodriguez Lopez-Calleja from a cardiopulmonary arrest at the age of 62.

On his Twitter account, the head of State expressed his condolences on behalf of the Cuban people: "I feel deep pain in expressing my condolences and those of the people of Cuba to the family and friends of Luis Alberto Rodríguez Lopez-Calleja. A revolutionary has left us, a man who served the Homeland and the Revolution in all its trenches"

The 48th KNE Festival to be held on 22-24 September in Athens

Under the slogan “The new generation with KKE for the big, the beautiful, the sensational” (N. Beloyannis)- Socialism, the answer in the 21st century”, the central events of the 48th festival of the Communist Youth of Greece, commonly known as KNE-Odigitis Festival, will take place on 22-24 September in Athens. This year's slogan is inspired by Greek communist hero, Nikos Beloyannis, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of his execution.

The festival, which is traveling in many Greek cities and towns throughout July and August, includes numerous political as well as cultural events.

Slavoj Žižek, an apologist of Capitalism disguised as "Marxist philosopher"

By Nikos Mottas.

"The least we owe Ukraine is full support, and to do this we need a stronger Nato [...]  Today, one cannot be a leftist if one does not unequivocally stand behind Ukraine” (The Guardian, June 21, 2022).

Who is the author of the above words? Is it NATO Secretary Jens Stoltenberg? Or German Chancellor Olaf Scholz? Maybe Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez? None of them. The phrase belongs to a celebrity of contemporary left-wing intelligentsia. The much publicized “Hegelian Marxist” philosopher Slavoj Žižek.