TKP-KKE: Turkish, Greek communists strengthen joint struggle against imperialism-exploitation

The Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) and the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), two parties with a long history of fraternal relations, organize bilateral meetings and joint events in Turkey between 11 and 15 May.

More specifically, TKP will host a delegation of the KKE within the framework of comprehensive program of visits, meetings and political events throughout Turkey, including major cities Istanbul, Ankara, Antalya and Adana. 

Shameful billboard against Victory Day in New York's Times Square

The shameful billboard in New York City.

A shameful multimedia billboard appeared in Times Square, New York City, on Monday 9 May, calling the victory of the Soviet Red Army over the Nazis a "day of shame"! 

The billboard, paid by the campaign "Unite with Ukraine", was referring to Russia and the ongoing imperialist war in Ukraine. 

"MAY 9, RUSSIAN VICTORY SHAME DAY" was the message written in the billboard, provoking numerous negative comments in social media. 

KKE: The imperialist war in Ukraine and the stance of the Russian Communist Workers’ Party (RCWP)

 Article of the International Relations Section of the CC of the KKE

On the stance of the RCWP on the imperialist war in Ukraine

Following the article on the stance of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF), we would also like to respond to some questions about the stance of the Russian Communist Workers’ Party (RCWP) regarding the war in Ukraine; questions which also arise from some unfounded remarks made by the RCWP about the Resolution of the CC of the KKE that some “well-intentioned” people, who are hostile to the principled positions of the KKE and support the geopolitical plans of the Russian bourgeoisie, took care to translate into Greek and disseminate in various media outlets.

KKE: Statement on the 77th anniversary of the Great Antifascist Victory of the Peoples

On 7/5/2022, the Press Office of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece  (KKE) issued a statement (here in Greek) on the 77th  anniversary of the Great Anti-fascist Victory of the Peoples, which notes, among other things, the following:

“The 9th of May inspires the peoples, it teaches them to have faith in their own power.

The USSR managed to achieve the feat of the anti-fascist victory thanks to the superiority of the socialist system, workers’ power, and the advantages of the socialization of the means of production and the central planning of the economy, which today are derided by the leaders of capitalist Russia (...) The workers’–people’s forces in Greece and all over the world will always commemorate the 20,000,000 Soviet soldiers and people that fell victims with admiration and respect.(...) 

Communists in Berlin honored the Great Antifascist Victory despite police ban

Communists in Berlin honored on Sunday the 77th anniversary of the Great Antifascist Victory of the People's despite the police ban which prohibited the use of the red flag with the sickle and hammer. As 902.gr portal reported, members and friends of the Communist Parties of Greece (KKE) and the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) organized a joint commemoration event at Treptow Park, where the Soviet monument stands.

 

Treptow Park is the burial place for 7,000 heroic soldiers of the Red Army who fought for the liberation of Berlin. The joint event by KKE and TKP supporters was also a response to the recent vandalism of the monument with fascist symbols and racist slogans.

European Communist Initiative: 9th May, a milestone of the Great Antifascist Victory of the Peoples

In a statement about the 77th anniversary of the Great Antifascist Victory of the Peoples, the 9th of May, the Secretariat of the Initiative of Communist and Workers' Parties issued the following statement:

We proudly commemorate 9 May, a milestone of the Great Antifascist Victory of the Peoples. We pay tribute to the millions of people who sacrificed their lives, fought with guns in their hands, and struggled against the fascist imperialist Axis of Germany–Italy–Japan and their allies. 

18th World Trade Union Congress: Opening speech by the General Secretary of the WFTU George Mavrikos

This weekend, the heart of the international trade union movement beats in Rome, where the 18th World Trade Union Congress is taking place with 419 delegates from 95 countries. 

The Congress began on Friday 6 May and will conclude on Sunday 8th May. 

On the first day, the General Secretary of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) George Mavrikos delivered an opening speech, analyzing the experience from the Union's activity during the previous period as well as the challenges and struggles that are coming for the class-based working class movement: 

Koutsoumbas: “The right side of history is the struggle against the imperialist war in every country”

“The anniversary of Greece's accession to NATO may be, without doubt, a black anniversary, but for the working class and the people, especially the younger ones, is also an opportunity: To refer to the blood-stained, full of crimes history of this imperialist organization which continues to be written even today”, stressed out the General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece Dimitris Koutsoumbas during a speech at the Party's headquarters in Athens. 

The 18th World Trade Union Congress kicked off in Rome

Under the sounds of "Bella Ciao" and the hymn of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), the 18th World Trade Union Congress started its works today, 6th of May, in Rome. 

Greeting messages were delivered by the host USB trade union, as well as by the President of the WFTU.

The three-day Congress, which takes place under the slogan “United, we continue! For the satisfaction of our contemporary needs, against imperialist-capitalist barbarity!”, will be concluded on May 8th. 

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.