Greek Communists denounce EU attempt to gloss over the criminalization of communist ideology in Czechia

Czech Communists rally in Prague in 2022 -- image via the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia

Members of the European Parliament of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE): No matter what anti-communist measures they take, they will not stop the struggle of the peoples

In just 78 words, the EU is attempting to gloss over the criminalization of communist ideology by the Czech government, which carries prison sentences of up to five years, as well as similar prosecutions in Poland, the Baltic states, and elsewhere.

Justice Commissioner McGrath’s response to a question submitted by the MEP Kostas Papadakis, reaffirms that the conveyor belt of anti-communist prosecutions, bans and restrictions on the operation and activities of communist parties in one form or another in at least one-third of EU countries is not only tolerated but supported by the directives of the imperialist EU alliance, whose official doctrine and ideology is anti-communism.

As the Commissioner clearly states, the persecution of communists and anti-communist legislation are matters of "competence of the Member States" as long as specific articles of the Treaty on European Union are complied with. The Czech government’s approach to EU standards obviously meets these criteria, as do all similar prosecutions by governments of other EU countries.

At a time when a true “witch hunt” is being waged against communists and other militants, the EU is once again revealing itself to be a supposed defender of democratic and human rights, or the so-called “rule of law”, and exposing the true aims of the unhistorical and dangerous anti-communist ideologies and practices that it systematically and consistently promotes, especially in the context of generalized war preparations.

However, no matter what measures they take, they will not prevent the struggle of the peoples, led by the communists, against the historically outdated system of exploitation, imperialist wars and oppression. The only progressive way out in the 21st century is the revolutionary transition to socialism–communism.

Below are the full texts of the question posed by the European Parliamentary Group of the Communist Party of Greece and the response from the European Commission.

Question for written answer to the Commission:

“With the endorsement of the EU, which has adopted an official anti-communist stance, Czechia’s Fiala Government has driven forward despicable changes to the penal code, criminalising support for the communist ideology as equivalent to Nazism, punishable by up to five years in prison. The provision paves the way for dangerous developments, such as the ban on the Communist Party and communist activities in Czechia.

This unacceptable move is based on the dangerous horseshoe theory and on the historically baseless idea that puts fascism – a product of the capitalist system – on a par with socialism/communism.

Such measures serve to escalate the anti-grassroots attack on people’s rights at a time when war preparations are intensifying.

Given that the European Commission takes every opportunity to invoke the so-called ‘rule of law’ and ‘human rights’:

1.What view does it take of the unacceptable criminalisation of communists and ordinary people seeking to exercise the right to freedom of political expression and action, amounting to nothing less than a communist witch-hunt in one-third of the EU Member States, including Czechia?

2.What view does it take of the call for an immediate end to all persecution of communists and for the repeal of all anti-communist laws prohibiting the action of communist parties and depriving them of basic civil liberties in Czechia, Poland, the Baltic States or other EU Member States?”

Answer given by Mr. McGrath on behalf of the European Commission:

“The organisation and regulation of national politics and political parties are the exclusive competence of the Member States. Subject to the respect of certain basic principles, such as those laid down in Articles 2 and 10 of the Treaty on European Union and of their international commitments, it is the responsibility of Member States to lay down the specific rules regarding these areas, and of the competent national administrative and judicial authorities to ensure compliance with applicable law.”