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Statement by the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) on the 98th anniversary of the formation of the first PCC (translated from the Spanish):
On August 16, 1925, Julio Antonio Mella and Carlos Baliño founded the first Communist Party of Cuba (PCC). A political organization that emerged in an extremely difficult stage and that spent most of its life clandestinely or semi-clandestinely, but that was essential to creating the yearnings for a social revolution in Cuba.
The work of its main leaders, including Rubén Martínez Villena and Blas Roca, led to its growth despite the fierce media campaign and persecution against the communists, who, on many occasions, ended up murdered and disappeared.
This Party played a leading role in the strike of August 1933 and, in Fidel's words, carried out "an extraordinary work of raising the consciousness of our working class and our people." This political force fought against hunger and poverty wages, promoted the creation of trade union, women's, peasants' and youth organizations and fought tirelessly against the imperialist domination that subjugated Cuba.
During their 36 years of struggle, militants of Cuba's first Communist Party excelled in battles against corrupt governments and the bloody dictatorships of Machado and Batista. At the same time, they developed an influential work based on example.
"We had our first contacts with the communists when we were university students. And that attitude, that conduct, that discipline, that self-denial, that example that the communists gave everywhere impressed us deeply, and contributed to creating a climate of prestige and influence for the Communist Party," Fidel Castro said.
When founding this Party, Carlos Baliño was 77 years old, and among his merits was that of being a co-founder of the Cuban Revolutionary Party. Meanwhile, Mella, just 22 years old, was a fervent student of the work of the National Hero of Cuba. This devotion of both for Martí shows the continuity between these political forces.
After the triumph of 1959, a process of strategic unity developed among the revolutionary forces that led to the creation on October 3, 1965 of the Central Committee, the Political Bureau, the Secretariat and the working commissions of the current Communist Party of Cuba. In that momentous meeting, Fidel Castro was elected First Secretary.
