On the results of the National Elections of September 16th, 2007
The Central Committee of KKE met to make a first evaluation of the results of the National Elections held on September 16th. The final conclusions will be drawn after the discussion and evaluation of the results in the Party Organizations. Such discussions will also take place in the Communist Youth (KNE), as well as with the people that cooperated with the Party, with the Party supporters and friends. This activity should develop simultaneously with the deployment of a more ample mass action of the Party in face of the great problems that are accentuating, on the basis and on the estimations that we have put forward openly before the people during the electoral campaign about the anti-popular offensive that we expect.
1. The Central Commitee of KKE salutes the members of the Party and of the Communist Youth, the friends and supporters of the Party, the people who cooperated with us, all those who had a militant contribution in the electoral growth of the Party, the biggest one since 1993, in combination with the losses that the two governing parties of the capital, the ND and PASOK parties, have suffered.
The CC estimates as positive the cooperation that was achieved in the party’s lists with the participation of “Left Citizens’ Intervention” and other figures.
Appeals especially to everyone that took the courageous step to vote the lists of KKE, to all those that entrusted us independently of any particular or different points of view they may retain. They have overcome habits that lasted for years; they have overcome blackmailing dilemmas that rose in the pre-electoral period speaking of chaos and ungoverned country. We appeal to those that in the last moment did not manage to make a step forward, despite the appreciation that they hold for the politics and the activity of the Party.
The Central Committee, as well as all the Party, assures that we are committed to meet the expectations of all those people that trusted the Party for the first time, including a big number of young voters. The Party aims to meet with them and foster our bonds in the fields of the struggles, in the political action, in the dialogue about the alternative.
2. The Central Committee of KKE estimates that the electoral result, with the rise in votes and in percentage (8.2%) for KKE, in combination with the losses that the governing party of ND and the major opposition party of PASOK suffered, responds up to a certain level to our political objective of weakening both two parties and at the same time reinforcing the KKE. It contributes to the great cause of the rise of the labor movement and the popular movement in general in Europe, in confronting Centre-Right or Centre-Left scenarios. These particular elements of the increase of KKE cannot be summed up with any other expression of contraposition to ND and PASOK.
KKE criticized ND and PASOK about their overall strategy and neither about aspects of their politics, nor about issues related with administration or modes of governance. We focused our criticism on their economic policy, their social politics, on subjects of democracy, on foreign affairs politics. On their agreements with the imperialist choices of EU, NATO and the USA. We underscored the value of strengthening the Party as the unfailing and firm counterbalance to the dominant policy. KKE made it clear that it will not cooperate with any of the two parties, as they are parties of the capitalist power. It highlighted the alliance proposal with socio-political forces that agree in the direction of acting against the monopolies and the imperialist choices, with the perspective of the people’s power and people’s economy.
The electoral increase of KKE contains an important potential. It is something achieved during all previous years, following the ideological intervention and the action of the Party in the labor and popular movement, in the struggles of the youth. Therefore, has a certain background, and it is not a result of impressions that were shaped mainly in the pre-electoral period. The high percentages that the Party concentrates in the labor and popular masses and in the youth, especially in the employees of the private sector, in the unemployed, self-employed and in the poor farmers of the countryside, affirm the oriented and committed action that is defined by the character of the Party and of the social forces that have interest in creating the of the Anti-imperialist Antimonopoly Democratic Front. This trend is being reaffirmed in all electoral battles. It is confirmed that prerequisite for strengthening the Communist Party is its stable orientation towards the main fronts of struggle, that are the working class and the youth.
The politics of alliances contributes to the emancipation of popular forces that are under the influence and the blackmailing dilemmas of ND and PASOK parties, from the conception of “the only way” that all other parties adopt. On this ground the reformist and opportunist illusions that prevent the radicalization and hold popular masses captive in chimeras and illusions adverse for the present and future of the popular movement will be confronted. On this ground, nationalist and chauvinist tendencies, as well as misconceptions against the migrants that work in our country can be confronted.
3. We should not rely on the electoral result that is hopeful for the Party and for the popular movement. ND, as well as PASOK parties, despite their losses, retain high percentages in the working class, in the self-employed, in the women and the youth. The bourgeois class of the country and the parties serving its power will give priority in gaining back the lost ground, in holding back new losses. Hard and more qualitative political-ideological work is needed, so that this positive step will be consolidated and, above all, will be further broadened the sooner possible. ND will raise higher its banner of blackmail and dilemmas, aiming at gaining free ground to promote its antipopular, class reforms. The processes that begin now in PASOK should not cultivate illusions that this party can change its class character. The popular social layers that are affected by the two parties must abandon them, they have nothing to wait from them, apart from antipopular politics and support of the imperialist choices.
Our main duty is, following our systematical and more intense effort, in cooperation with the radical forces that are bolstered in the society, to create an immediate popular alertness in order to repel the new antipopular measures that ND will put forward; to confront scenarios aiming in transforming the bipartisan alteration into a bipolar system. To develop a more ample discussion on the field of struggles about the alternative of the people’s power, in opposition the scenarios of disguising the system of the bipartisan alteration. As long as a big part of the working class and of the other popular strata has difficulty in visualizing the alternative on the subject of power, they will be faced with the danger of incorporation. They will be affected by forces that cultivate the idea that it is possible to solve the big popular problems, without of breaking with the interests of the monopolies, with the imperialist policy.
4. The Central Committee evaluates that today KKE is more ready, more able and militant, as well as the Communist Youth, to confront the new offensive against the people by the government of ND in all aspects. KKE can confront this offensive together with the increasing radical popular forces in the society. From better positions we have to contribute in the emancipation of forces from the dominant policy and its parties. More intense and systematic action, greater efficiency is needed in the hard and complex effort for the building of the anti-imperialist antimonopoly alliance that expresses the common interests of the working class and its allies.
5. The positive result for KKE will bring about new multifaceted attacks against the Party from the various centers supporting the political system, that do not want the alternative to become visible in the horizon. Their intentions became evident from the organized attacks against our Party during the pre-electoral period. We are in position to confront them. Our duties increase, therefore we should overcome any deficiencies or weaknesses that we have – and we do have – as more people demand from the Party, they look to us and they will not forgive any lapse from our duties.
The day after, that has already begun, should find us nearer and deeper in the problems of the workers than we have been up to no;, we have to contribute in the cultivation of a spirit of popular resistance, popular organization and initiative; to work so that the people realize that it has a much greater power than it believes, that it has to use that power, and then it will be seen that the opponent is not so mighty as it seems.
The KKE from TODAY starts with a new dynamic for the struggles and the perspective.
that the day after, which has already begun, should find the communists closer to the problems of the working class to contribute in cultivating a spirit of organization and struggle, with greater vigour at the forefront of the struggles in defence of the people’s rights.
The Central Committee calls upon the Organizations of KKE and of KNE to plow literally every place of work, of education and of residence, where the working class, the youth and the popular strata of the society work and live; to be in the forefront of the struggles, in defense of the popular rights, for the achievement of new gains; to develop an even more ample and systematic discussion and dialogue with the new voters, to contribute in their participation in the action, in the movement, in the trade unions, in the associations, in committees of struggle, where each one can contribute. With the confidence and the commitment that all of us together will act so that new steps forward will be are made.
ATHENS 17/09/2007
THE CC OF KKE
e-mail:cpg@int.kke.gr