Showing posts with label Greece. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Greece. Show all posts

Sunday, June 11, 2017

Workers Against Imperialism: Large anti-NATO rally to be held in Thessaloniki, Greece on June 24th

"WITH THE WORKERS OF ALL COUNTRIES, FOR A WORLD WITHOUT EXPLOITATION, WARS AND REFUGEES".

Within the framework of the Two-day Balkan Anti-War and Anti-Imperialist Action of Trade Unions, which will take place in Thessaloniki on 24-25 June 2017, the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) calls for mass participation in a large anti-imperialist, anti-NATO rally that will be held in Greece's second largest city on Saturday 24th June. Numerous labor centers, workers' unions and branch trade unions from all over the country will gather in Thessaloniki, in order to participate in a demonstration outside the city's NATO headquarters (NRDC-GR) on the 24th of June. 

Saturday, June 10, 2017

Political Knavery: SYRIZA government crushes people's rights, votes for extra austerity measures

"Butchers" of pensions, salaries, workers rights.
PM Alexis Tsipras (right) with Finance Minister
Euclid Tsakalotos.
With the 153 votes of the SYRIZA-ANEL coalition government's MPs, Greece’s parliament approved on Friday a handful of additional antipeople austerity measures demanded by creditors in order to unlock more than €7bn of aid and complete a much delayed second review of the so-called bailout progam. 

Once again, the government of Tsipras proves its role in doing the "dirty job" on behalf of the creditors and the big Capital. 

The extra austerity measures, which were added to draft legislation on fishing regulations in an attempt to speed up their passage through parliament, are related to further cuts in pensions and "freezing" of the collective contracts until 2022, taxation issues and electronic auction of properties. 

Friday, June 9, 2017

43rd KNE-Odigitis Festival: The Communist Youth of Greece to honor October Revolution's centennial

KNE-Odigitis Festival (Archive photo).

For more than four decades, the KNE-Odigitis Festival, organised by the Communist Youth of Greece (youth wing of the KKE), consists a major annual cultural and political event. 

This year, the KNE-Odigitis festival will honor the Great Socialist October Revolution, using as a major slogan the lyrics of the Soviet poet Vladimir Mayakovsky: "100 years since the October that shocked the world "the future will not come on its own… If we do not also take measures". 

Thursday, June 8, 2017

Statement of the CC of the KKE regarding the latest dangerous developments in the Middle East

Source: 902.gr / Translation: In Defense of Communism.

In a statement regarding the latest developments in the Middle East, the Press Office of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) stresses the following:

"Yesterday's US bombings against forces of the Syrian army, combined with the diplomatic crisis in Qatar and today's attack in Iran's Parliament, consist a dangerous escalation of the imperialist interventions and competitions in the region of Eastern Mediterranean, the Middle East and the Persian Gulf.

Precisely these interventions of the USA-NATO-EU, in their antagonism with other powers in the broader region, such as Russia, are the ones which led to the dismemberment and destabilization of countries, the support of jihadist groups like ISIS, aiming at the control of the natural resources and energy routes of the region.

Sunday, June 4, 2017

British Elections: Dear comrades, be aware of social democracy bearing gifts

EDITORIAL

On Saturday 8th June, the working people of Britain will be called to choose between two versions of bourgeois management: The Conservative Party of Prime Minister Theresa May or the Labour Party of Jeremy Corbyn? Despite their existing individual differences regarding the mix of policies, both parties serve the capitalist system. They are both thoroughly bourgeois parties, fully committed to the goal of promoting the profits of the capitalists.

Saturday, June 3, 2017

POLITICAL RESOLUTION OF THE 20th CONGRESS OF THE KKE (Full Text)

Source: inter.kke.gr
The 20th Congress approved the Theses of the CC which include the report on the party's work and its political tasks until the 21s Congress, taking into account the discussion and their approval by the general assemblies of the Party's Base Organizations (PBOs) and the Conferences. It also approved the report of the CC at the 20th Congress as well as the report of work of the Central Auditing Committee (CAC).The 20th Congress of  the KKE was held from the 30th of March until the 2nd of April 2017 at the headquarters of the Central Committee of the Party.

Friday, June 2, 2017

"You shall not pass!": KKE protesters blocked the road to NATO convoy in Greece

A human chain stood against a NATO convoy on Friday afternoon in northern Greece. Hundreds of KKE and KNE members blocked the road at the tolls of Polymilos in Egnatia motorway, close to the city of Kozani, thus denying the passage to a convoy of 22 NATO vehicles coming from Albania. 

Under the slogans "NATO killers go home" and "Neither soil nor water to the murderers of the people", the KKE protesters demanded the return of the convoy back to Albania. Among the participants in the human blockade were the KKE MEP Sotiris Zarianopoulos and Sakis Vardalis, KKE MP. 

Thursday, June 1, 2017

Alexis Tsipras assures industrialists that the anti-people policy will continue

His committment in implementing new anti-people, anti-workers measures Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras expressed at the Hellenic Federation of Enteprises (SEV) annual general assembly on Wednesday. 

Tsipras delivered a speech during an event marking the 100th anniversary since SEV's foundation where he characterized the capitalist recovery of the economy as a "national goal". 

"The future of the economy for many decades will be judged at this time. We must be united before a goal of national importance," Tsipras said. The demand for sustainable growth and a national plan for radical changes had yet to be fulfilled, he said, while the years of crisis had amply demonstrated that the previous production model had failed. This model would have to be redesigned in order for Greece to exit the crisis and the country was now asking its creditors to meet their own commitments, enabling Greece to access the markets on its own merits.

Wednesday, May 31, 2017

All-Workers Militant Front (PAME): ITUC and the Goals of the EU-IMF in Greece

In a message to its members in Greece, the GSEE-ADEDY, the international mechanism of the multinationals within the trade unions, the ITUC, “criticizes” the IMF-EU that they promote “wrong” policies in Greece and “do not succeed in their goals”.
We inform the ITUC that the IMF-EU-Greek Government have succeeded their goals 100%, because their goal is to destroy workers’ rights, so as to guarantee the profits of the monopolies.
Having no relation with class struggle, nor with the meaning of class exploitation, imperialism, capital, or working class, the ITUC repeats the arguments of the Greek Government of SYRIZA and the nationalist-racist ANEL party, about a “just growth”, which will supposedly will benefit the workers. 

Tuesday, May 30, 2017

KKE slams Tsipras' government: Greece must be disengaged from imperialist interventions and wars!

The Parliamentary Team of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) submitted a written question about Greece's disengagement from imperialist interventions and wars to the Ministers of Defence and Foreign Affairs. The text of the question is the following:

Source: RizospastisTranslation: In Defense of Communism *.

"The decisions of the governments of ND and PASOK in the previous years, as well as the ones of the SYRIZA-ANEL government today, for the involvement of Greece in imperialist interventions and wars, have put and continue putting our people in great adventures and dangers.

Friday, May 26, 2017

KKE: PM Tsipras and his government are the "best students" of NATO

Info: 902.gr / Translation: In Defense of Communism.

On the occasion of the NATO Summit in Brussels, the Press Office of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) issued the following statement:

"The Summit of NATO's leaders of states and governments took the baton from last year's Warsaw Summit and, despite individual contradictions, decided the escalation of its (NATO's) attack against the people, thus confirming the criminal role of this imperialist organisation.

The Summit decided:

Thursday, May 25, 2017

Communist-backed 'Panspoudastiki' gains second place in Greece's student elections

“Panspoudastiki KS”, the communist-backed university students party- emerges again at a national level as the second force in the Universities and the Technological Institutes. The result confirms that there is a very important mass of students that place their trust in the positions and activity of the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE).


Thousands of students supported the lists of “Panspoudastiki KS” (PKS) in the student union elections held on the 24th of May. They struggled alongside the members of KNE in order to shape the positive result of the student union elections.

“Panspoudastiki KS” increased its actual votes and percentage in the Universities, receiving 24.48% (in 114 from 199 Schools). The lists of DAP (of the conservative party New Democracy) gain the majority of votes (37.89%), while PASP (of the social-democratic party PASOK) and EAAK (ultra-left ANTARSYA) saw a reduction in their actual votes in the universities. The government-oriented  list BLOKO of the new social-democratic party SYRIZA has decreased dramatically, reaching 0.50%.

In the Technological Institutes “Panspoudastiki KS” received 25.81% (in 37 from 66 Schools) being in the third place.

In a statement, the General Secretary of the CC of KNE Nikos Abatielos points out the fact that "Panspoudastiki KS" remains a "militant force", remaing the second force in the University student elections. "The KKE and KNE will continue our efforts to strengthen the line of counterattack, against the antipeople policy of governments-EU-capital which crashes the studies and life of thousands of students" said Abatielos, adding that "the KKE and KNE will be in the front line of the struggle".

* While this post was written, the counting of the votes was still in progress. You can check out the results by clicking here (in Greek).

UPDATE (25.5.2017, 1:06 pm).

"Panspoudastiki" has received 20.69% (in 185 from 199 Uni. Schools) in Universities remaining second force. In Technological Institutes "Panspoudastiki" has 20.70% being the third force after DAP and PASP.

Thursday, May 18, 2017

The SYRIZA government serves capitalist barbarity: KKE MPs denounce the new austerity measures

Dimitris Koutsoumbas (Left) and Thanasis
Pafilis during their Parliament speeches.

As the Parliament prepares to vote upon the new austerity package (a 4th memorandum agreed by the government, the EU and the creditors), the MPs of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) unleashed an attack against the government's new antipeople measures. 

Speaking at the Parliament, the Secretary General of the CC of the KKE Dimitris Koutsoumbas denounced the coalition SYRIZA-ANEL government as the one responsible for the shrinkage of people's standards of living and labour rights. "The new antipeople agreement" said D.Koutsoumbas, "consists a new a 4th memorandum" and pointed out that the new measures "both directly and indirectly support the profitability of business corporations". He also stressed that the policy followed by the government is based on directions which increase the exploitation of the working people and strengthen the concentration of the capital.

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

D. Koutsoumbas: "The austerity memorandums must be thrown in the trashbin of history"

"Popular uprising everywhere. The memorandums of austerity must be thrown in the trashbin of history" said among other things the Secretary General of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Dimitris Koutsoumbas who attended the large strike demonstration in Athens on May 17. Talking to journalists, Secretary Koutsoumbas made the following statement:

"Actually, class war is now in progress, it is a marathon, not a rifle shot in the air. Class war must be a daily and lasting one. The harsh antipeople measures, the 4th memorandum along with the previous memorandums (of austerity) must be thrown in the trashbin of History and for that the only responsible are the Greek people, the labor-popular movement. 

For that reason, our call is: Popular uprising everywhere, not a day or hour must be gone; the struggle doesn't end today or tomorrow but continues. 

Tuesday, May 16, 2017

“We will not become the slaves of the 21st century": The KKE calls for people's counterattack

Source: inter.kke.gr.

A 24hr general strike will be held in Greece on 17 May 2017, as well as the strike rallies and demonstrations of the All-worker’s Militant Front (PAME) in dozens of cities, against the measures which the coalition government of the “Left” party of SYRIZA and the nationalist party of ANEL is bringing for discussion on that day in Parliament. 
Protest demonstrations will be organized by PAME all over the country on 18th of May, the day the measures will be voted on.
The SYRIZA-ANEL government is bringing these measures after the negotiations with the imperialist unions of the EU and IMF for the 2nd evaluation of the 3rd Memorandum. It is clear from the results that the government negotiated with the lenders on behalf of the interests of the domestic monopoly groups and not the people, with the aim of accelerating the process of an exit from the capitalist crisis that favours capital.

Monday, May 15, 2017

People Rise Up: Greece's Labour movement prepares for national General Strike on May 17

A nationwide General Strike is scheduled to take place on May 17, 2017 with rallies and demonstrations in Athens-Piraeus, Thessaloniki, Patras and all major cities of the country. 
On the occasion of the General Strike, the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) calls the people to rise up against the new harsh measures imposed by the bailout agreement of the SYRIZA coalition government and the creditors (EU-IMF). More specifically, the PAME statement writes:

Saturday, May 13, 2017

PM Alexis Tsipras in China: Promoting the interests and aspirations of Greek capitalists

The role of Greece as a "bridge" between China and the EU is the major aim of the Greek government, in an effort to promote and expand the aspirations of the country's bourgeoisie. The visit of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in Beijing, on the occasion of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (May 14-15) serves this purpose. 

Greece is at a crossroads of three continents, it constitutes an important hub in the economic, energy and cultural sectors and can serve as a bridge between China and Europe, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said on Saturday in a meeting with the Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Thursday, May 4, 2017

KKE GS D. Koutsoumbas: "The SYRIZA government does the 'dirty job' on behalf of the capitalists"

Regarding the recent agreement of the SYRIZA-ANEL coalition government with the creditors on new harsh antipeople-antiworkers measures, the Secretary General of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Dimitris Koutsoumbas made the following statement:

"The new agreement of the SYRIZA-ANEL government with the Quartet, which typically and in fact consists a new memorandum, with new harsh measures against employees, pensioners, self-employed people, confirms once more that the government does the "dirty job" on behalf of the capital. 

The new agreement consists a new attack on the people's income, new large cuts in pensions and benefits, new structural measures for the benefit of the monopolies, such as the substantial abolition of the Sunday holiday and the expansion of privatizations.

Monday, May 1, 2017

May Day 2017: Mass participation in PAME's militant rallies in Athens and Thessaloniki (Photos & Videos)

Info from 902.gr / Translation: In Defense of Communism.

With a massive gathering at Syntagma square and a march towards the U.S. Embassy, thousands of people participated in PAME's May Day rally in Athens. Under the slogan "With the Workers of all Countries for a World without exploitation, wars, refugees", the protesters expressed their commitment to continue the class struggle against the new antipeople measures of the SYRIZA coalition government and the EU. 

The 1st of May rallies by PAME consist a step towards the escalation of struggle against the policy of government-EU-capital which will be expressed with a nationwide strike on May 17th.

Saturday, April 29, 2017

Event in honor of Fidel Castro held in Greece

Photo: Embcuba Grecia.
THESSALONIKI- A political event in honor of the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution Fidel Castro Ruz was held on Friday in Greece's second largest city, Thessaloniki. The event, which was co-organised by the local Greek-Cuban Association of Friendship and Solidarity and the Greek Committee for International Détente and Peace, was attended by the Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba in Greece Ms. Zelmys María Domínguez Cortina and the Embassy's councellor Mr. Jose Oriol Marrero Martinez

Major speakers at the event were the Professor of Contemporary History at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Giorgos Margaritis, the Secretary General of the Greek-Cuban Association of Friendship and Solidarity Nikos Mottas and the Secretary General of the Greek Commitee for International Detente and Peace Nikos Zokas