KKE: On the imperialist war in Ukraine and the stance of the CPRF

By the International Relations Section of the CC of the KKE.

“A struggle for markets and for freedom to loot foreign countries, a striving to suppress the revolutionary movement of the proletariat and democracy in the individual countries, a desire to deceive, disunite, and slaughter the proletarians of all countries by setting the wage slaves of one nation against those of another so as to benefit the bourgeoisie; these are the only real content and significance of the war. ” - V.I. Lenin, The Tasks of Revolutionary Social-Democracy in the European War, Collected Works, Vol 26, pp 1

All the above, underscored by the leader of the October Revolution more than one century ago, are absolutely true as regards the war in Ukraine. Many articles to date have highlighted aspects of the fight over markets, raw materials, and commodity transport routes.

Farewell to veteran Cuban diplomat Ricardo Alarcón

Veteran Cuban diplomat, revolutionary and politician Ricardo Alarcón passed away on Sunday 1st May in Havana, close to his 85th birthday.

On Twitter, President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez acknowledged Alarcón as a "great patriot and brilliant diplomat of the Cuban Revolution, whose work he defended with passion and solid arguments, making our people proud.  Cuba mourns his departure".

May Day 2022 in Greece: "The working class does not bow its head" (VIDEO)

“The working class will not bow its head” was the message sent by thousands of demonstrators on May 1st in Athens' Syntagma Square, on the occasion of the International Workers' Day. With a militant rally, trade unions that participate in the ranks of the All-Workers' Militant Front (PAME) raised their voice against the rise of prices and Greece's involvement in the imperialist war in Ukraine.

136 years since the uprising in Chicago, in the shadow of another imperialist war that is taking place for the profits of the capitalists, in the face of the escalating attack of governments against the workers' rights, the message of the May 1st protests throughout Greece is a beacon of hope. 

European Communist Initiative: Statement on the 1st of May, the International Workers' Day

In a statement for the 2022 International Workers' Day, the European Communist Initiative points out the following:

"This year, we highlight the 1st of May in difficult conditions, amidst the severe sharpening of the contradictions within the imperialist system.

The constant escalation between the imperialist blocs of the world has as its inevitable outcome the sharpening of competition; as every monopoly needs to expand it will eventually encounter other monopolies seeking to do the same. The constant struggle for profits drive the policies of the bourgeoisie and its governments, and forces upon the people militarisation and an increase in exploitation. The fault is in the capitalist system itself.

Vladimir I. Lenin — May Day

The text was written by Vladimir I. Lenin in April 1904:

Comrade workers! May Day is coming, the day when the workers of all lands celebrate Their awakening to a class- conscious life, their solidarity in the struggle against all coercion and oppression of man by man, the struggle to free the toiling millions from hunger, poverty, and humiliation. 

Two worlds stand facing each other in this great struggle: the world of capital and the world of labour, the world of exploitation and slavery and the world of brotherhood and freedom.

Ukrainian site "Myrotvorets" targets Greek communists

By Nikos Mottas.

The rise of fascism in Ukraine, which was boosted after the 2014 coup, isn't limited to the persecution of communists, the banning of communist symbols and the prohibition of political parties. For almost eight years now, the Ukrainian state tolerates and fosters the unacceptable and dangerous targeting of persons who are regarded as “enemies” by the right-wing establishment.

In a recent report, “Rizospastis”, the daily newspaper of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), refers to the role of “Myrotvorets”, a Kiev-based website that published personal information, including photos and contact details, of people who are considered to be “enemies of Ukraine”. 

May Day 2022: Statement by the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU)

On the occasion of the International Workers' Day 2022, the Secretariat of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) points out:

"Long live the 18th World Trade Union Congress!

The World Trade Union Federation, on the occasion of May Day 2022, salutes workers on all continents – all those whose work continues to drive the gears of life even in difficult conditions and who continue to produce all essential goods.

Party of Labour of Austria: Defend and apply Marxism-Leninism!

The Party of Labour of Austria  (PdA), a participant in the International Meeting of Communist and Workers Parties (IMCWP) and a member of the European Communist Initiative, held its 5th Party Congress on April 23, 2022 in Vienna. Below you can read the General Resolution of the Congress, titled "Clarity and unity strengthen the Party", in English and German:

 

Clarity and unity strengthen the party!

Sweden's communists say "NO" to NATO membership

SKP's head Andreas Sörensen.

Sweden has been following a foreign policy of neutrality for a long time. However, the ongoing imperialist war in Ukraine has caused a rise in Russophobia, thus giving the opportunity to the Swedish bourgeoisie to root for NATO membership.

Swedish daily Aftonbladet reported that the United States and Britain had promised Sweden increased military presence, more in-depth military exercises and 'strong political' support from NATO countries" during a possible NATO application process. It is expected that the Swedish government will formally express its wish to join the imperialist alliance by mid-May. 

KKE: The Red flag will not whitewash capitalist Russia

They are looking for an “absolution certificate” in the Red Flag

The 9^thof May is approaching and the Russian bourgeoisie once again utilizes the red flag to take advantage of the anti-fascist and pro-Soviet sentiments of the Russian people. In areas occupied by the Russian army in Ukraine, the red flag of Victory is raised, i.e. the flag of the unit of the Red Army that occupied the Reichstag in May 1945. The CP of the Russian Federation (CPRF) went one step further. It introduced a bill to replace the current tricolour of Russia, the flag of the tsars and the traitor Vlasov, a Nazi collaborator in the Second World War, with the red flag. 

KKE: Comment on Macron's re-election in France

REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes.

Emmanuel Macron has won France's presidential election, fending off a historic challenge from far-right candidate Marine Le Pen during Sunday's runoff vote.

Macron took 58.5% of Sunday's vote, making him the first French leader to be reelected in 20 years. He and Le Pen advanced to the runoff after finishing in first and second place, respectively, among 12 candidates who ran in the first round on April 10.

Commenting on the outcome of the election and the victory of Emmanuel Macron, the Press Office of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) points out (here in Greek):

Sofia Manzano: “Communism is the most generous proposal humanity has ever produced”

PCB presidential candidate Sofia Manzano (pcb.org.br)

“Communism is the most generous proposal humanity has ever produced”, said Sofia Manzano, the  candidate of the Brazilian Communist Party (PCB) for October's presidential election, during an interview with “Brasil de Fato” newspaper earlier this month.

Talking about the centenary of the PCB, which was celebrated on March 25th, and the current struggle of Brazil's communists, Manzano pointed out that the Communist Party emerged as a need of the working class to organize herself along the lines of the example that the 1917 Great October Socialist Revolution presented. 

Finland should not become a NATO member

"NATO membership is not the solution" writes Seppo Ruotsalainen, member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Finland (SKP), Doctor of Political Science and Senior Researcher, regarding the country's potential accession to the imperialist alliance. 

More specifically, Ruotsalainen points out:

"When considering NATO membership, it is worth briefly recalling the development of Finland's foreign policy after the wars. The aim of J.K. Paasikivi (President from 1946-56), who initiated this policy, was to preserve Finland's independence and to keep the country out of the disputes between the great powers.

Joseph Stalin: 20 Selected Quotes

Twenty selected quotes by the great Bolshevik revolutionary and leader of the Soviet Union from 1922 to 1953, Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin:

It is difficult for me to imagine what "personal liberty" is enjoyed by an unemployed person, who goes about hungry, and cannot find employment. Real liberty can exist only where exploitation has been abolished, where there is no oppression of some by others, where there is no unemployment and poverty, where a man is not haunted by the fear of being tomorrow deprived of work, of home and of bread. Only in such a society is real, and not paper, personal and every other liberty possible.

Azov neo-Nazis demolish Zhukov statue in Kharkov

Neo-Nazis belonging to the Azov Battalion, supported by the Ukrainian authorities, demolished the statue of the legendary Soviet Marshal Georgy Zhukov in the city of Kharkov. 

The dismantling of the monument reportedly took place on Sunday 17 April. 

Koatiantyn Nemichev, an ex-combatant of the neo-Nazi Azov Regiment and head of the Kharkov branch of the National Corps, published a video of the demolition of the monument, stating that it had been dismantled by KRAKEN special forces. The video shows the statue being taken to a landfill. 

The struggle against the imperialist war in Ukraine and Greece's participation in it

By Giorgos Marinos,

The imperialist war in Ukraine, following the unacceptable invasion of Russia, continues. The conflict between the USA, NATO, EU with capitalist Russia carries the risk of generalization and Greece is “up to the neck” on the side of Euro-Atlanticism. The government, with the support of SYRIZA and KINAL, has transformed the country into a military base. The US bases, for which all governments bear responsibility, are used. Greek military unites and armaments are sent to the “eastern front”. 

Venezuela's communists seek to build an alternative to Maduro in 2024

Oscar Figuera, PCV General Secretary.

The General Secretary of the Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV), Oscar Figuera, ruled out an eventual electoral alliance with right-wing sectors that have promoted sanctions or invasions of the country, the Party's official news site "Tribuna Popular" has reported.

"In the PCV we want to build an alternative to Maduro in 2024. We have no problem meeting with Antonio Ecarri, but we will not make alliances with sectors that called for military invasions against Venezuela," Figuera said during an interview on the radio program "En Buena Hora", hosted by journalist Mario Villegas.

Is the French communist movement dead?

By Nikos Mottas

Macron vs Le Pen and Le Pen vs Macron. Once again the French people are called to choose between “Scylla” and “Charybdis”, being entrapped in the notion of the “less evil”. 

We've seen this play in the past: In 2017, when Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen were again the two contestants in the second round of the presidential elections, as well as in 2002 when Jacques Chirac faced Jean-Marie Le Pen who came second leaving behind social democrat Lionel Jospin. 

CPB: "The working class in Britain is facing the most vicious ruling class offensive in generations"

'The working class in Britain is facing the most vicious ruling class offensive in generations, with a huge rise in the cost of living and attacks on democratic rights', Ruth Styles told the Communist Party executive committee at the weekend.

She highlighted the impact of massive energy price hikes which threaten to leave hundreds of thousands of families in the cold or going hungry.

'The soaring cost of living is prompting outbreaks of industrial action as workers across the public and private sectors demand higher pay to meet rising prices', the CP chair declared.

KKE-TKP: Joint statement by Dimitris Koutsoumbas and Kemal Okuyan

On Monday 11 April, the General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Dimitris Koutsoumbas met with Kemal Okuyan, General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP), in Athens where they talked about the developments with the war in Ukraine as well as the political situation in Turkey, Greece and the broader region.

Following the meeting, the two leaders signed the following joint statement (in Greek and in Turkish): 

KKE: Statement on the French elections' result

Commenting on the result of the first round of the French presidential elections, the Press Office of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) stresses out (read here in Greek):

“The result of the French elections, with the once again high percentage of far-right Le Pen, is the tragic consequence on the one hand of the timeless anti-people policy implemented by all governments in the name of “democracy” and “progress” and, on the other, of the compromise and degeneration that has prevailed in the labor and communist movement in France. 

PRCF on French elections: Neither Macron, nor Le Pen in the second round

Following the result of the first round of the French Presidential Election on Sunday, the Pole for Communist Revival in France (Pôle de Renaissance Communiste en France, PRCF) and its youth wing, JRCF (Jeunes pour la Renaissance Communiste en France), call for a mass turnout on the second round of what they consider as an “electoral masquarade which has been locked up for months by the oligarchy”.

In a statement (here in French), the  PRCF calls the working class to abstain from voting on April 24th in order to de-legitimize the political power of the future president as much as possible. 

Sitaram Yechury re-elected as General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)

The 85-member new Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) that was elected at the 23rd Party Congress held in Kannur has chosen Sitaram Yechury as General Secretary. 

Yechury, 69, is taking over the leadership of the party for a third consecutive term. 

He succeeded Prakash Karat who has held the top post in India's largest left party from 2005 to 2015. 

Communist and Workers' Parties: Solidarity with the KKE and KNE in the struggle against imperialist war

Numerous Communist and Workers' Parties from all over the world have issued statements of solidarity with the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE) in the struggle against the imperialist war in Ukraine and the country's involvement in the dangerous US-NATO plans. 

The Parties express their support and solidarity to the militants, including two members of the CC of the KKE and a member of the Central Council of KNE, who were beaten, injured and arrested following the unprovoked attack by police forces on the day of nationwide strike on April  6th in Thessaloniki.