On 19 January, for the second consecutive Sunday, the Greek newspaper “Proto Thema” - which has wide circulation in Greece - devoted 2 pages to discussing the ideas of the Greek Marxists - The Communist Tendency of SYRIZA. The real “interest” of Proto Thema, of course, is to expose the "extreme" ideas of the Marxists. However, the practical result they achieve, as you will see, is to summarize the Marxist programme and provide it with wide circulation. What ultimately is passed from this interview to the average reader, tormented by Memoranda and the onslaught of capitalism, is not the "terror" for the communists and SYRIZA, but the argument of the need for a fundamental, revolutionary change in society.
Below is the full interview with two members of the Communist Tendency of SYRIZA as published in “Proto Thema”.
Two of the most dynamic members of the Communist Tendency of SYRIZA speak in'' “Proto Thema”. They envision a revolutionary government of SYRIZA which will follow in the footsteps of “genuine Marxist revolutionaries” of the period 1917-1924. Serving faithfully the ideas of Trotsky and Lenin, the Communist Tendency of SYRIZA lifts the banner of Marxist ideology within the party, while SYRIZA, in theory at least, is a united party without internal political groupings.
Please click here to read the full programme of the Communist Tendency of SYRIZA
In an interview in “Proto Thema”, the members of Communist Tendency of SYRIZA and members of the Central Committee of SYRIZA itself, Mr Stamatis Karagiannopoulos and Orestes Doulos - who replaced Ms. Evi Tounta after her resignation from the Central Committee of SYRIZA last week - analyze [on the one hand, their proposal for a] revolutionary program of a government formation under Mr. Alexis Tsipras and [on the other] the creation of the United Socialist States of Europe. They recommend a governmental coalition of SYRIZA and the Communist Party (KKE) for the overthrow of capitalism, widespread expropriation of businesses and socialization of the means of production to achieve growth. They call for an armed militia of workers in the police and the armed forces to protect the socialist gains even with weapons. Through their newspaper Epanastisi, which from next Saturday promises to be a fortnightly available in kiosks , the Communist Tendency of SYRIZA challenges the party leadership to be ready for the coming revolutionary events. The answers below are from both.
How were you led to the decision to create the Communist Tendency of SYRIZA, when the the various political group components of SYRIZA were dissolving?
The right of existence of a tendency in a mass workers' party like SYRIZA must be recognized. Our tendency, ie. genuine revolutionary Marxism, must present itself with a distinct political profile and this is exactly why we were led to the official proclamation of our tendency last April , the Communist Tendency of SYRIZA, in our opinion, was needed in the political geography of the party but also in the Greek labour movement .
Reading your positions, a question immediately arises as for what reason you are not integrated in the Communist Party.
The reasons are historical. Our current, in order to be separated from that of the official communist movement which was identified with Stalinism, adopted the name “Trotskyism”. It was a term attributed to the genuine Marxists by the Stalinist Marxists and we joyfully accept so as to distinguish ourselves as genuine communists from the Stalinists. Unfortunately even today in the historic and heroic Communist Party of Greece, the ideas of Trotskyism are prohibited. Therefore SYRIZA, which is a place that brings together many different currents, politically and ideologically, was appropriate for us to defend those ideas.
Is there any space in SYRIZA to promote the Marxist ideology?
Of course there is. SYRIZA is a place that belongs historically in the Greek communist movement, and if there is no space here, where could there be?
Do you think that the programme of the Communist Tendency is realistic?
The weapon to challenge the misery that the ruling class is proposing is the revolutionary ideas of Marxism. If the leadership of the Left (SYRIZA and KKE) propose a fundamental change of society on the basis of a revolutionary program, that will lead to waves of enthusiasm amongst the desperate workers and this enthusiasm will become a political movement in Greece and beyond.
Is SYRIZA and Alexis Tsipras ready to set up a revolutionary government?
This question should be addressed to comrade Alexis Tsipras and not to us. In our opinion, comrade Alexis Tsipras and SYRIZA should be ready because, quite simply, a leftist government that follows a programme of reforms, such as the one the SYRIZA leadership is proposing, and not our complete revolutionary program, will face financial and political sabotage by the ruling class. Without a revolutionary will and programme to remove the economic power of a handful of people who currently control the banks, mass media, industry, transport, trade and land ownership, this government is doomed to fail.
Can SYRIZA implement a political programme to overthrow capitalism?
Let us imagine that SYRIZA was making an appeal to the workers to implement such a programme, explaining to them that this is the only option against the nightmarish reality of capitalism. Which worker would not fight fiercely for such a Socialist perspective? Soon this example of a revolutionary SYRIZA would spread throughout Europe. Then the German capitalists would really have a problem. Unlike now, where Angela Merkel sees a SYRIZA that wants to make profound changes that it does not know how,. A SYRIZA that wants to negotiate but not display a revolutionary solution for the workers.
Do you refer to a broader European transformation?
The United Socialist States of Europe is the only consistent alternative proposal of a left party, which promises the prospect of socialism against the current capitalist Europe.
What are the key features of a revolutionary government?
Today the only viable power proposition based on the current correlation of political forces is a coalition of SYRIZA and the KKE under a socialist program of profound changes in society. This will become a European benchmark. Unfortunately, and this is also partly the responsibility of the Communist Party leadership, the leadership of SYRIZA does not fight as hard as needed for this perspective. The unity of the Left to change society is not on their agenda. An alliance of the Left with a bourgeois party would be disastrous.
What should be the key aspects of the economic policy of such a government?
A revolutionary government of SYRIZA should legally require companies to reduce the working hours of their employees, so that all unemployed people can get jobs, without reducing wages. This will bring a huge increase in productivity and with it so will create conditions for growth. The government of the Left will also have to attain control over all the strategic sectors of the economy and to organise the economy on the basis of a plan where the workers will have a say.
What about taxation?
Our position has been misrepresented from the [right-wing] party of New Democracy. We want the Greek millionaires to be taxed at 75% of the income, for the benefit of poor people. This requires the application of a genuine workers' control in enterprises. The government of the Left will allow the workers to check accounting books of businesses in order to uncover the scams, scandals and tax evasions. If the gentlemen who own these companies do not comply, these companies should be socialised.
Given the expropriations of businesses, who will invest even one euro in Greece?
Who said that in order to have economic and social growth large investors from abroad are required? Large investors will come only if they get guarantees of low workers’ wages. They will demand the return of widespread impoverishment of sections of workers. We do not place our hopes in investors but the international victory of socialism.
Is it possible to apply workers’ control when this model has been historically surpassed?
This model was applied only to the first - few - years of the Soviet Union, and in conditions of war. We are talking about the period up to 1923-1924 where we had an attempt of the Soviet state to stand on its feet while being under attack from imperialist armies and the Tsarist forces. At this time in the presence of Lenin and Trotsky as unquestioned frontmen of the revolution, workers' control was applied, which is the standard and tradition we defend today.
The implementation of a revolutionary program will automatically lead to a rupture with the EU and to the issue of a national currency, as you write in your programme.
A return to a national currency is a forced choice to organise the distribution of the economy in a rational manner. It will be a transitional national currency which will be valid in Europe until the Left comes into power in all or part of the continent and consolidates Europe around another single currency.
How will you materialise your proposal for a workers’ army with military divisions of the labour unions?
You can read this proposal in the minutes of the Second Congress of the Communist International. The soldiers must have a say, since they are taking a gun to defend their homeland. A say on how to use the weapons, against whom they will be used, if there really is a threat to the country or not. We don’t talk about the abstract threat against the territorial integrity of the country, but also, in the event that a threat against the social and political achievements of the people. If such a threat should materialise, the workers should be able to defend them even with arms in hand. This is the only way to have a peaceful revolution.
You suggest a popular militia as security forces involving members of labour organisations.
The democratisation of the security forces is necessary. Today, the members of the security forces are trained to deal with the “enemy within” [ie. The Greek working masses]. How would we change that? By allowing the mass workers’ organisations to control the security forces. The administrations of the security forces will be elected and will be subject to recall. The members of the workers' mass organizations that want to protect their revolutionary conquests - which will be won through a leftist government - will do this with their physical presence and struggle. Instead of the police there will be another body that will really keep order, guaranteeing the democratic achievements of a socialist government.