Press Conference on the joint statement of 21 Communist and Workers’ Parties from EU countries on the EP Elections

On Monday, 11th May 2009, Aleka Papariga the general secretary of the CC of KKE gave a press conference on the joint statement of 21 Communist and Workers’ Parties from EU countries on the EP elections.

Gyula Thürmer, president of the Hungarian Communist Workers’ Party and Carmelo Suárez general secretary of the Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain also took part in the press conference.

Aleka Papariga in her opening remarks underscored:

“As you already know, KKE maintains multifaceted international cooperation at all levels with Communist and Workers’ Parties irrespective from any ideological, political differences that may exist, which has constituted a good starting point for the broader rallying of anti-imperialist forces. The international meetings which have been established since several years, have advanced regarding the discussion and exchange of views; they are characterised by the effort, apart from the discussion of the issues we face every day, to highlight shared or different positions on issues of strategic importance as well as theoretical questions.

At the same time, the cooperation at regional level, in each continent or among neighboring areas develops too.

However, as we have already stressed in our documents, in our congresses including the last 18th Congress, we are of the opinion that still we have a long way to run in order to shape, through essential procedures, without hastiness but with responsibility towards the acute problems we face today and the bigger ones in the future, a unified strategy that responds to the character of our era, the era of transition from capitalism to socialism. Likewise, it is also necessary to cope with issues that have to do with the crisis of the capitalist system, the inter-imperialist contradictions, issues regarding the study of the course of socialist construction, the development and the enrichment of our theory taking into account the conquests, the positive contribution as well as serious mistakes made in the course of the construction of a new system; mistakes and problems which theory could not tackle and provide solutions prior to their emergence.

We regard as very important the fact that for the first time we have a joint statement of 21 Communist and Workers’ Parties with common positions that respond to the character of the EU and the character of the struggle which peoples throughout Europe should carry out.

Of course each party adjusts its struggle according to the particularities of each country. Furthermore, I would like to underline that the joint statement is signed only by parties from EU member states. Parties that agree with the statement and would be willing sign it, nevertheless their countries do not belong to the EU, have not been included.

On the other hand there are communist parties with which we have a close cooperation on many issues that do not sign the statement. However, this does not prevent us from cooperating with them on issues that there is an agreement. Joint actions and agreements that have a stable basis and do not overlook differences or dilute estimations aid the labour and generally the popular movement. Otherwise the agreement is not firm and entails the risk that workers understand these positions in a selective way, in other words each one can perceive whatever he/she thinks. Ambiguity does not constitute a real force.

KKE with its dispassionate stance, its patience that in politics constitutes an advantage and not a disadvantage, believes that in the next years more positive developments regarding the formation of a more cohesive communist current will take place; this current will contribute to the broader rallying of forces but it will also stand firm and unwavering against incorporation and manipulation; it will be resistant to ideological-political pressure and thus it will contribute to the resistance of the movement to the ups and downs and the maneuvers of the class enemy.

CRITICAL DIFFERENCES WITH THE PLATFORM OF EUROPEAN LEFT PARTY-FUNDAMENTAL CRITERIA ON THE POLITICAL ACTION AND COOPERATION THAT FULFILLS THE DECLARATION OF 21 COMMUNIST AND WORKERS’ PARTIES

1. The least we can say is that the Platform of ELP expresses a total confusion regarding the laws of the capitalist production and reproduction. The credit system is presented as autonomous from the capitalist production. It aims at restoring the threadbare of Maastricht Treaty, as well as the so called European vision to the conscience of the people. The proof is that those who supported the Treaty have now their hands tied.

We are not dealing with a type of coincidental capitalism; what we experience is in the nature of capitalism and not a deviation, as is referred to the first paragraph of the Platform of ELP for the EP elections. It is a crisis of the capitalist system; not of the U.S. hegemony.

The crisis is not due to the fact that the stock market was not controlled. That is the nature of the system, and the money market is an inextricable element of it. There is parasitic speculation due to the concentration of capitals that is not realized with tricks but on the basis of class exploitation.

There can’t be a way-out from the crisis for the workers, the employees and the self-employed workers and at the same time for the capitalists and the sectors of the middle strata that are reproduced with them. Thus, the struggle against the monopolies transforms into a struggle for “good monopolies”, for a …human capitalism.

“Neo-liberalism” is victimised due to the supposed lack of state and interstate regulations that resulted in its crisis or, what some call, “crisis of the casino capitalism”.

Capitalist economy means accumulation of fabulous profits. The incentive for continuous growth of profits and intensification of the exploitation of workers, especially under conditions of recession of the working movement, is the impetus of the capitalist production and economy. In other words, rich will get richer and poor will get poorer.

THE PLATFORM OF EPL UNDERMINES THE RADICALISATION, IT MAKES THE MOVEMENT SUFFER A MISFIRE, AND THE MORE ITS INTENSITY THE LOWER IT WILL FALL IF IT DOESN’T DEVELOP ADEQUATE CONSCIENCE.

BASIC AND CHARACTERISTIC POINTS OF THE DECLARATION OF THE 21 PARTIES

1. The main issue is to highlight the character of EU. Its character is not defined by the parties that constitute the majority, either they are liberal or social-democrat, centre-left or centre-right. What defines it is, first of all, who holds the means of production; who defines the path of development. EU is capital’s choice, since the first discussions held in the interwar period, in the 20th century. Choices and the management at the benefit of the capital may impose either nationalizations or privatizations. When we say that, it does not mean that the struggle of the workers cannot deter the worse to come; that it can achieve gains but that these can’t be a repetition of those in the post-war period. Achieving gains requires ideological emancipation, alliance with the popular strata, requires ideological emancipation, alliance with the popular strata, and struggle till the end to overthrow the power of monopolies.

2. A key element of equal importance is the international role of EU. The declaration raises the issue that EU is a pillar of the imperialist order, not a counterweight pole.

3. The stance towards the Treaty of Maastricht.

Only the adequate and politically correct position regarding the character of EU can pave the ground for an alternative solution. Without it, cosmetic changes will be presented as alternative solution.

EU is not at a crossroads, as mentioned at the electoral platform of ELP. It has decided which course to follow, it does not oscillate. We must hinder it and set obstacles on its way. It cannot change, but it can be weakened and overthrown. It can lose members that will join a different cooperation.

4. The issue of socializations of the means of production.

5. Each people’s right to decide on the way of development in its country, as well as the right to disengagement.

We consider that the withdrawal of the Hungarian Communist Workers’ Party from the ELP is of significant importance.