UNITED, WE SHALL WIN

vol. 3, no. 5, June 2010, $ 1.00

si vous voulez lire en français: http://www.laviereelle.blogspot.com/

NOTA BENE: Many thanks to Tim Pelzer (Vancouver), tpelzer@shaw.ca, who edited this article. You will find at the bottom, the link to the daily communist selection published by l'Humanité in English, in Paris.

_______________________

A LETTER TO MY COMRADES,

I have just come back from Paris, France where progressive people I met - a few members of the French Communist Party (FCP); one elected leader of the French Communist Renewal Movement (FCRM); and some activists of the General Confederation of Labour (CGT) - paid attention to a friendly report on the situation in Québec and English speaking Canada. They knew that living in Canada does not mean that you are enjoying a full democracy.

They recognize that most of the gains in living standards over the decades are the fruit of difficult union struggles. Such is the reality in France.

(Photo: Activists of the Pôle de Renaissance Communiste en France at the Eiffel Tower, in solidarity with the Cuban Five).

For a strong and democratic communist party

Because the FCP has lost members and influence among the working class over the last few decades, French Communists are conducting an intensive debate about the decline of their Party.

The whole picture is that of a house under renovation. It’s “renovators” have either broken with the dictatorship of the proletariat, democratic centralism or are undecided about the role of Stalin and the like. These never-ending debates have resulted in some temporarily leaving the party. It is also obvious that some have deliberately used the debates to weaken the party.

The Pôle of Communist Renewal in France (PRCF), led by philosopher Georges Gastaud and former Young Communist League leader Daniel Antonini, are standing at the head of the movement to change the party. In a recent call to French Communists, the Pôle stated: “When the FCP was Marxist-Leninist and focused on its links with the working class, the goal of changing society was at the core of struggles, social gains were on the agenda and the Capital had to be cautious. Since the FCP has repudiated its fundamentals and dropped national independence in order to please the pro-Maastricht socialist party, not only has the Party’s influence collapsed but our working class and nation are trod upon by ‘European construction’, liberties are trampled down, and the extreme right has a free space to lure the most desperate part of the working people. The PRCF calls on all comrades (from outside and inside, ed.) to build a communist convergence for action on a truly communist basis.”

The PRCF stresses too that: “without renouncing to its own organization, independent of the Socialist Party and PCF, the PRCF calls for immediate action”.

The PRCF is an active organization that enjoys support across France, especially in the industrial region of the North (Nord-Pas de Calais). It carries out discussions with some PCF leaders and Communist parties around the world. It does not want to transform itself into a party but is working to change the Communist Party of France into a fighting organization. Every month the organization carries out a solidarity action. This month the PRCF organized an event to support the Cuban Five near the Eiffel Tower which attracted the attention of many tourists and French. The PRCF is close to the traditions and current policies of the Communist Party of Canada. The Pôle is not a member of the French communist party but attracts members of the PCF; as for the official leadership of the PCF, they prefer to ignore the Pôle while there is little media coverage of their activities. They "disturb" the overall political picture of France.

However, even with the decline, the Communist movement is still strong: the PCF claims 40,000 party members and 12,000 YCL members. In France you are either a FCP member, a former member, a friend, or party ally. The PCF has elected Deputies in the National Assembly and City Councils across the country. The party's daily newspaper L'Humanité and weekly magazine l'Humanité-Dimanche are available at every newstand and enjoy a broad readership. (Photo: Communist Assistant-Mayor Uychart in one of a Paris Borough, taking part to the 2010 May Day Demonstration in Paris).

On the other hand, the PRCF also believes that support for young people and their struggles is an important goal.

Be it in Canada or in France, solidarity spells the same way

There is room for hope. Let’s put some muscle in our struggle and solidarity with the French working class. They are supporting the Greek workers and demanding the Cuban Five’s liberation.

As for the contribution French communists have made, lets remember that they fought against the Nazi occupation during WWII; they contributed to the modernization of their country and the well-being of the working class through the Conseil National de la Résistance (National Resistance Committee); they are able to overcome new challenges, including building a genuine socialist society. That is the real charming perfume of Paris...

(Photo: Militants of the General Confederation of Labour-CGT, the largest trade-union center in France, in support to the Greek workers and retired people, in Paris).

L'Humanité in English

danieleugpaquet@yahoo.ca