Communist Party of Greece in Istanbul: More communist municipalities are in the interest of the Turkish and Greek peoples

Ercan KÜÇÜK - 12punto.com.tr

TKP and KKE representatives met with journalists in Istanbul on Friday morning. At the meeting, communists from both countries evaluated the elections and municipal governance. During the meeting, KKE Mayor Peletidis also answered questions from 12punto.

The meeting was opened by TKP General Secretary Kemal Okuyan. Emphasizing the deep friendship and cooperation between the TKP and KKE, Okuyan stated that the two parties would exchange views during the meeting. Okuyan said, "There has always been an election atmosphere in Turkey that we have complained about; for years we have been saying, 'Turkey is being depoliticized, parties are ceasing to be parties, and individuals are being pushed to the forefront,' but none of us expected the disgrace we are seeing in these elections."

CASH COUNTING MACHINES

Addressing the debate over the "cash counting footage" that emerged during the Istanbul elections and was circulated by pro-government media, Okuyan commented, "We cannot know the details. But we are going through a period where those cash counting machines are running in every corner of Istanbul. Does the AKP not know this? Were those machines not used in the sale of every stone, every piece of soil, and every part of Istanbul? There are thousands of those machines in all the parties."

WE HAVE STARTED TO MISS THE LIBERAL DEMOCRAT PARTY

The TKP General Secretary added, "We have started to miss the LDP." he said, "It is unclear what anyone is saying. And left-wing parties have become part of this as well."

Okuyan spoke as follows:

"Politics happens between sides. We are calling on our citizens to take a side in an election where there are no sides, which is very exhausting. We want fascists, social democrats who truly believe in social democracy, and Islamists to face us. It doesn't happen. Everyone keeps changing their shape.

"Half of the current candidates have changed parties in the last year. People's political views can change, but at least they should say why they changed so we can know too. Some candidates have 5-6 parties on their record. The issue is not just Hamza Dağ not wearing a party badge; everyone focused on that. There are secret CHP members within the AKP, secret IYIP members within the CHP... It's like a soup. The TKP is trying to stand tall and engage in politics amidst this chaos, and they call us 'old-fashioned.' We shall see. We will see who is old-fashioned and who is modern."

HOW HAS THE LIFE OF LOW-INCOME PEOPLE CHANGED?

Following Kemal Okuyan, Kostas Peletidis, the mayor of Patras, Greece's third-largest city, took the floor. Peletidis responded to journalists' question, "You have been in power in Patras for three terms; how has the life of low-income people changed during this process?" as follows:

"The life of the working class in Patras is not very different from the life they lead across Greece, or even the life they lead in Turkey. The lives of those who exploit the labor of others are the same."

"We established free children's camps. We built play centers for children within neighborhoods. Kindergartens were fee-based; we made them free and increased their numbers."

Stating that families in Patras send their children to private tutoring centers to support their education, Peletidis said, "So where do the poor children go? To the public libraries we established."

GREECE AND TURKEY ARE VERY SIMILAR

Peletidis also answered questions from 12punto. When asked about his views on the upcoming local elections in Turkey and their aftermath, Peletidis said:

"Whatever happens in Greece, the same things happen in Turkey. It is actually very similar. In Greece, there is always a segment that wins, and a segment that is constantly losing and becoming impoverished." 

As in Greece, workers and laborers are struggling to produce their own economy. We view the struggle being waged in Greece as something that can be sustained here as well. If there are more communist municipalities working on the same political axis as the TKP and KKE, this will be in the interest of the Turkish people. And it will be in the interest of both peoples combined. Ultimately, the righteous will win. It is not fair for some to constantly eat and consume while others constantly work. The strengthening of the TKP in the local elections and the election of TKP mayors and municipal council members is of great importance for the people. It would be a very significant development for the public to have such a foundation in their struggle for a better life."

COMMON PROBLEM: EARTHQUAKES

Earthquakes are as significant a topic in Greece as they are in Istanbul. Peletidis also explained the preparations of communist municipal governance in Patras, which is frequently shaken by earthquakes. In response to journalists' questions about how they prepare, noting that Patras has also experienced recent earthquakes, Peletidis stated that they are striving to make all kinds of preparations, primarily focusing on strengthening the building stock in Patras.

However, according to Peletidis, these measures are not enough for earthquake preparedness. The issue hinges on how the central budget is used, and therefore, on political power.

"Is there funding available in Greece today to make our homes and schools earthquake-resistant? Yes, there is. But some people are using those resources for 'investments' and 'projects.' The resources exist, but they are not being used for the people. That is exactly what we are fighting for. They are trying to seize our resources, and we are trying to seize theirs. If we win, the earthquake problem will be solved; as long as they win, it will not."

News Source: 12punto