Workers Revolutionary Party (Greece)
Encyclopedia
The Workers Revolutionary Party (EEK: Ergatiko Epanastatiko Komma, in Greek
: ΕΕΚ, Εργατικό Επαναστατικό Κόμμα) is a Trotskyist communist political party
in Greece
, taking part in the elections
independently , since the departure from Radical Left Front
(MERA, ΜΕΡΑ) coalition
in spring of 2009 .
The party's newspaper is Νέα Προοπτική (Nea Prooptiki, New Viewpoint). Another of its publications is Επαναστατική Μαρξιστική Επιθεώρηση (Epanastatiki Marxistiki Epitheorisi, Revolutionary Marxist Overview), a theoretical magazine. EEK also publicates classic marxists' writings.
The party's position on the 2008 civil unrest in Greece
was that it was a revolt.
Its youth section is OEN (Οργάνωση Επαναστατικής Νεολαίας, Organisation of Revolutionary Youth).. OEN's monthly magazine is Konservokouti (Κονσερβοκούτι, Tincan), a provocative title for the Greek reactionaries, based on the far-right propaganda that used to claim for decades that the left-wings used tincans to cut their opponents throat, through the Greek civil war.
The party concluded its 10th Congress in October 2008.
EEK's General Secretary is the prominent Trotskyist Savvas Mihail, former secretary of the International Committee of the Fourth International
.
EEK is the Greek Section of the Coordinating Committee for the Refoundation of the Fourth International.
The internal crisis of the 4th International was followed by a crisis inside its Greek section, ΚΔΚΕ – Κομμουνιστικό Διεθνιστικό Κόμμα Ελλάδας (Kommounistiko Diethnistiko Komma Elladas, Communist Internationalist Party of Greece), in 1958, causing the departure of many members that rejected Pabloism and entrism sui generis. Among them were Trotskyist revolutionaries that were legends for the Greek movement since the 1920’s, such as Loukas Karliaftis aka “Kostas Kastritis” or Mastroyiannis – Theotokatos. Also there were many youth industrial workers who created along with other mechanics a struggling workers organization and published the magazine "O Μηχανουργός" ("The Mechanic"). This group’s successes were many, gaining power and control inside many workers’ unions against Stalinism. Finally, the group of youth workers and the old veterans Trotskyists joined and created ΣΥΝΔΙΚΑΛΙΣΤΙΚΗ ΠΑΡΑΤΑΞΗ – ΕΡΓΑΤΙΚΗ ΠΡΩΤΟΠΟΡΙΑ (SYNDIKALIST UNION – WORKERS’ VANGUARD) in 1964. That was the legal title of the organization, due to the law 509 that prosecuted for high treason any organization that fought openly against the regime. The real, but illegal title, was ΕΔΕ – ΕΠΑΝΑΣΤΑΤΙΚΗ ΔΙΕΘΝΙΣΤΙΚΗ ΕΝΩΣΗ (REVOLUTIONARY INTERNATIONALIST UNION).
The newborn organization published the magazine "Ο Διεθνιστής" ("The Internationalist") and soon started to play a significant role in class war in Greece. They struggled inside the unions and participated in any fight such as the riot of July 1965. From the first moment EΔΕ sought contact and connected with the ICFI.
The dictatorship of 1967 gave a critical hit to EDE. Many members were arrested, prisoned and tortured, but the organization never stop to fight against the dictators illegally through publications, propaganda and by participating in the student revolt of November 1973. Others managed to escape abroad in European countries, where they continued the struggle. The fall of the junta in 1974, found EDE reorganized with an increase in numbers and structures. EDE published "Σοσιαλιστική Αλλαγή" ("Socialist Change") twice a week. EDE’s youth section was Young Socialists.
In 1985, EDE transformed into a Leninist party, under its current name, EEK.
In 1989, EEK left the ICFI.
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
: ΕΕΚ, Εργατικό Επαναστατικό Κόμμα) is a Trotskyist communist political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, taking part in the elections
Elections in Greece
Elections in Greece gives information on election and election results in Greece.-Election of the legislature:The Greek Parliament has 300 members, elected for a four-year term by a system of 'reinforced' proportional representation in 56 constituencies, 48 of which are multi-seat and 8 single-seat...
independently , since the departure from Radical Left Front
Radical Left Front
The Radical Left Front was a coalition of radical left political parties in Greece.The Radical Left Front was founded in 1999 by New Left Current , the Maoist Revolutionary Communist Movement of Greece , the Trotskyist Workers Revolutionary Party , Youth of Communist Liberation , Independent...
(MERA, ΜΕΡΑ) coalition
Political coalition
A political coalition or political alliance is an agreement for cooperation between different political parties on common political agenda, often for purposes of contesting an election to mutually benefit by collectively clearing election thresholds or otherwise benefiting from characteristics of...
in spring of 2009 .
The party's newspaper is Νέα Προοπτική (Nea Prooptiki, New Viewpoint). Another of its publications is Επαναστατική Μαρξιστική Επιθεώρηση (Epanastatiki Marxistiki Epitheorisi, Revolutionary Marxist Overview), a theoretical magazine. EEK also publicates classic marxists' writings.
The party's position on the 2008 civil unrest in Greece
2008 civil unrest in Greece
The 2008 Greek riots started on 6 December 2008, when Alexandros Grigoropoulos , a 15-year-old student, was killed by two policemen in Exarcheia district of central Athens...
was that it was a revolt.
Its youth section is OEN (Οργάνωση Επαναστατικής Νεολαίας, Organisation of Revolutionary Youth).. OEN's monthly magazine is Konservokouti (Κονσερβοκούτι, Tincan), a provocative title for the Greek reactionaries, based on the far-right propaganda that used to claim for decades that the left-wings used tincans to cut their opponents throat, through the Greek civil war.
The party concluded its 10th Congress in October 2008.
EEK's General Secretary is the prominent Trotskyist Savvas Mihail, former secretary of the International Committee of the Fourth International
International Committee of the Fourth International
The International Committee of the Fourth International is the name of two Trotskyist internationals; one with sections named Socialist Equality Party which publishes the World Socialist Web Site and another linked to the Workers Revolutionary Party in Britain.-Foundation:The International...
.
EEK is the Greek Section of the Coordinating Committee for the Refoundation of the Fourth International.
History
ΕΕΚ’s history goes back to 1964.The internal crisis of the 4th International was followed by a crisis inside its Greek section, ΚΔΚΕ – Κομμουνιστικό Διεθνιστικό Κόμμα Ελλάδας (Kommounistiko Diethnistiko Komma Elladas, Communist Internationalist Party of Greece), in 1958, causing the departure of many members that rejected Pabloism and entrism sui generis. Among them were Trotskyist revolutionaries that were legends for the Greek movement since the 1920’s, such as Loukas Karliaftis aka “Kostas Kastritis” or Mastroyiannis – Theotokatos. Also there were many youth industrial workers who created along with other mechanics a struggling workers organization and published the magazine "O Μηχανουργός" ("The Mechanic"). This group’s successes were many, gaining power and control inside many workers’ unions against Stalinism. Finally, the group of youth workers and the old veterans Trotskyists joined and created ΣΥΝΔΙΚΑΛΙΣΤΙΚΗ ΠΑΡΑΤΑΞΗ – ΕΡΓΑΤΙΚΗ ΠΡΩΤΟΠΟΡΙΑ (SYNDIKALIST UNION – WORKERS’ VANGUARD) in 1964. That was the legal title of the organization, due to the law 509 that prosecuted for high treason any organization that fought openly against the regime. The real, but illegal title, was ΕΔΕ – ΕΠΑΝΑΣΤΑΤΙΚΗ ΔΙΕΘΝΙΣΤΙΚΗ ΕΝΩΣΗ (REVOLUTIONARY INTERNATIONALIST UNION).
The newborn organization published the magazine "Ο Διεθνιστής" ("The Internationalist") and soon started to play a significant role in class war in Greece. They struggled inside the unions and participated in any fight such as the riot of July 1965. From the first moment EΔΕ sought contact and connected with the ICFI.
The dictatorship of 1967 gave a critical hit to EDE. Many members were arrested, prisoned and tortured, but the organization never stop to fight against the dictators illegally through publications, propaganda and by participating in the student revolt of November 1973. Others managed to escape abroad in European countries, where they continued the struggle. The fall of the junta in 1974, found EDE reorganized with an increase in numbers and structures. EDE published "Σοσιαλιστική Αλλαγή" ("Socialist Change") twice a week. EDE’s youth section was Young Socialists.
In 1985, EDE transformed into a Leninist party, under its current name, EEK.
In 1989, EEK left the ICFI.
Electoral results
| Results since 2009 (year links to election page) |
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| Year | Type of Election | Votes | % | Mandates | ||||
| 2009 European Parliament election, 2009 (Greece) The European Parliament election of 2009 in Greece for the election of the delegation from Greece to the European Parliament in 2009 took place on June 7, 2009. The election system used in Greece is party-list proportional representation with a 3% threshold for any party... |
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| 2009 Greek legislative election, 2009 Parliamentary elections were held in Greece on 4 October 2009. An election was not required until September 2011.On 2 September Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis announced he would request President Karolos Papoulias to dissolve Parliament and call an election... |
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