PROLOGUE

These Statutes were adopted by the 15th Congress of the Communist Party of Greece which was held in May 1996. They were formulated to reflect the amendments and supplements to Statutes approved by the Party’s 9th, 10th and 13th Congresses. Experience from the distant and more recent past was also utilized in drafting them.

The Statutes determine the aims and nature of KKE, and the principles on which it is structured and operates.

They define the rights, obligations, primary duties and rules of action by the Party’s members, organisations and bodies.

The great value and significance of the statutory principles and operating regulations of this new type of party have been fully confirmed during the approximately eight decades of KKE’s existence and action, as well as by the rich experience of the international communist movement.

To defend these principles in a conscientious and resolute way and to observe and apply them persistently and creatively constitutes the paramount duty of every Party member. This duty is identified with the defence of the Party’s very existence and of the main conditions which enable it to accomplish its historic mission.

The principles enshrined in the Statutes ensure the basic conditions necessary for the personal virtues, abilities and activities of every member to be manifested and developed freely, and to be harmoniously joined together with those of other members and to contribute as a whole to the decisive strengthening of the Party and its political influence, to the effective defence and promotion of the immediate and long-term interests of the working class and all working people and to advance the ideas and values of the Party.

INTRODUCTION

a. KKE is the party of the working class, its conscientious organised vanguard, its supreme form of organisation. It is a revolutionary organisation of like-minded volunteers which is struggling to overthrow capitalism and build the socialist-communist society in which all exploitation of man by man and all oppression will be abolished, and in which a higher standard of living, the rights of the people and equality of opportunities and rights will be assured, as will the all-round progress of the Greek people.

KKE aims to devote all its forces to building this better society, being fully aware that it will be the task of the working people themselves and of their substantial participation both in the struggle to win it, and in the process of building, safeguarding and consolidating it. In this struggle, KKE expresses the interests of all the working people in both towns and villages, of women and youth, and of all those who are suffering under the power of capital and whose interests lie in replacing this power. The working clas, bearer of socialist change, fighting in the front ranks of the struggle to overthrow capitalism, are striving not only for their own liberation, but for the liberation of all working people.

For these reasons, it is a historical necessity for KKE to exist and grow stronger in Greek society. In order to win its fight against daily capitalist oppression and to end man’s exploitation of man, the working class needs its own independent political oganisation, a mass revolutionary party capable of guiding the struggle for their vital interests and the building of a new society.

b. In its activities to realise these noble aims, KKE is guided by the ideology of Marxism-Leninism and by proletarian internationalism. It is inspired by the great October Socialist Revolution, and by the rich militant traditions of the Greek people. It utilises the positive and negative lessons learned from the building of socialism as we saw it.

KKE, supported by its world theory, has drawn up its programme and policy based on the analysis of the Greek and international situation, on the generalisation of experiences from social and political struggles and on the progress of knowledge in Greece and throughout the world.

c. The transition from the capitalist society, which is going through a profound crisis, to a socialist society presupposes the winning of political power by the working class, the socialisation of the main means of production and the liberation of the creative activity of the working people, the youth and the people in general. KKE is fighting with all its forces to make the working class and its allies aware of this need. To this end, it explores every opportunity in its daily struggles to improve the lives of the working people, to protect and extend their economic, political, trade union, and cultural rights and freedoms, to defend national independence and peace and to protect the environment.

In this struggle it seeks to join all the working people together in a strong alliance against imperialism, against rampant exploitation, against activities by the economic oligarchy, domestic and foreign alike, and for substantial anti-imperialist, anti-monopoly, democratic changes.

d. The organisational structure and operation of KKE are in harmony with its aims and its revolutionary nature. Its fundamental principles are democratic centralism, collectivity, follow-up, criticism and self-criticism.

The consistent, integrated and creative application of these principles, particularly that of democratic centralism, ensures unity of word and deed, collective and personal responsibility, democratic discussion and operation and at the same time it ensures united conscientious discipline in action. It contributes to the training of fighters with authority, ethics and a developed stance of criticism and self-criticism and to the continued broadening and strengthening of its links with the working class, the working people and the people as a whole.

The ideological, political and organisational unity of the Party is a necessary condition for it to achieve its goals.

e. KKE is founded on the principle of proletarian internationalism. It bases its internationalism on the common interests of the working class, and on the common dreams and goals of communists in all countries. It trains its members in the spirit of proletarian internationalism, international solidarity and cooperation with working people all over the world. It fulfils its internationalist obligations consistently and takes part in the struggle to rebuild, unite and strengthen the international communist and workers’ movement.

KKE associates internationalism dialectically with patriotism. It is the true and worthy inheritor of the national, democratic and revolutionary traditions of the Greek people. It fights against all manifestations of fascism, nationalism, chauvinism and racism.

I. PARTY MEMBERS:

OBLIGATIONS AND RIGHTS

Article 1

Any man or woman 18 years of age and over can become a member of KKE on condition that he or she accepts its Programme and Statutes, belongs to and works in one of its organisations and pays his or her dues regularly.

Article 2

a) Workers, farmers, other working people, intellectuals and other persons who are in the vanguard of the people’s struggle can become members of the party.

b) New members are accepted into the Party on an individual basis only. People who wish to become members of the Party must first become candidate members. This probationary period lasts for six months.

c) A candidate member becomes a full Party member on the recommendation of two regular Party members who must have known the candidate for at least a year. The Party members who make the recommendations are responsible to the Party for their nominations.

Members of the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE) who are of the reguired age, have been members of KNE for at least one (1) year and ask to become members of the Party, will be accepted as full members immediately upon the recommendation of two regular Party members and two Party members of the leading body of the relevant KNE organisation.

The length of a person’s Party life is calculated from the day on which the Party’s Base Organisation (BO) made the decision to admit him or her to the Party as a candidate member. Regarding Party members who have come up through KNE, their Party file records the length of time they were members of KNE before becoming CPG members as being time served in KNE.

Admission to the Party is decided by the BO assembly and the decision is ratified by the immediately higher leading both with two months at the latest.

Candidate members have all the obligations and rights of members, apart from the right to vote and stand for election. Their votes are advisory. The BO Bureau must provide every possible assistance to new members so that they may start their Party life in the right way, assimilating the principles of the Party’s organisation and operation creatively. The decision to promote a candidate to regular membership is made at the assembly of the Party’s Base Organisation. The decision is made upon a proposal of the Bureau of the BO in the presence of the person concerned. The decision is ratified by the immediately higher leading body within two months.

d) Former members of other parties may be accepted as candidate members of KKE, after recommendation by two Party members with two years of Party life. In such cases, ratification is required by the City Committee or the Prefectural Committee.

When leading cadres from another party are involved, a decision is required by the Central Committee.

If a group of former members of another political party wish to apply for membership in KKE, they may be accepted only following approval by the Central

Committee. After this approval is obtained, the BO examines the application of each member of the group separately.

e) CPG members who live in another country may transfer to the corresponding party in that country, upon approval by the Central Committee. Likewise, approval is required from the Central Committee for acceptance into the Party of a member from another Communist or Workers’ Party.

f) A CPG member cannot belong to any other party.

Article 3

KKE member represents the Party wherever he is, particularly in the workplace.

The member is the Party’s link with the working people in his/her area, bringing their problems, opinions and dispositions to his or her organisation, and is responsible for disseminating and applying the policy, positions and decisions of the Party.

KKE bases the success of its immediate and long-term goals, its authority and strength on the energy, initiative, capability and militancy of its members.

From this relationship stem the following rights and obligations for all Party members.

Article 4

Party members have the following obligations:

- To participate in the assemblies of the BO to which they beleong. To take personal part in the discussions, decision-making and practical work of their organisation. To contribute to working out Party policy by voicing their thoughts and experience of practical action. To carry out the decisions of the BO and higher leading bodies irrespective of their own personal views. To make the Party’s policies and ideology known among the working people. To contribute to consolidating and widening its links with the workers and other working people, to informing and organising them. To see to increasing the circulation of Rizospastis and the Party’s other publications.

- To belong to their union shop, cooperative or other mass popular organisation in their workplace or district and to be in the vanguard in these organisations. To work actively to create mass organisations where none exist.

- To study Rizospastis and other Party publications in order to put forward its policy and defend it against distortions, slander and unjust criticism. To make sure they keep up their knowledge of Marxist-Leninist theory, and to upgrade their ideological, educational and political level, so that they will be in a position to fulfil their vanguard role consistently, to struggle firmly, and to fight resolutely and uncompromisingly against bourgeois ideology and against right or left deviations from the theory of Marxism-Leninism.

- To fight actively for the Party’s ideological, political and organisational unity, to comply with and defend the Statutes and the principles contained therein.

- To develop democracy within the Party and to fight against any violation of the operating regulations, any complacency, selfishness, nepotism or localism. To deal decisively with any attempt to obstruct criticism against anything that may damage the Party or stand in the way of the free expression of opinion and, regardless of the persons involved, to report this to the party bodies, up to and including the Central Committee.

- To draw new members to KKE, to contribute tirelessly to strengthening the Party organisationally and to keep trying to improve the methods used in Party work.

- To protect the Party from attacks by adversaries of all kinds, developing a revolutionary vigilance. To defend the Party’s ideals and aims everywhere, always and under any circumstances whatsoever, without concessions. To protect the Party in their practical work, under interrogation, in the courts and in prison and steadfastly to defend the values and noble title of member of KKE.

- In addition to their obligations, Party members are also obliged to exercise the rights deriving from the Party’s Statutes.

Article 5

Party members have the following rights:

- To participate in discussions held to shape Party policy at BO assemblies, in the bodies of which they are members, and at conferences and congresses to which they are elected delegates. To participate in discussions and dialogue assigned by the Central Committee through the Party press.

- To take part in the election of the Party’s leading bodies and to stand for office in them, if they meet the qualifications set out by the Statutes.

- To express their opinion freely and responsibly to the competent bodies and Conferences about the activity of any Party member or cadre of any leading body or organisation whatsoever.

- To demand responsible information from party bodies about party issues. To be informed as fully as possible about the ideological and political arguments for decisions which are to be put into effect, as well as about the activities of the bodies and cadres.

- To address themselves, on any party or personal issue, to the organisation they belong to, as well as to any higher leading body in the organisation including the CC and the Party congress. To demand to be given prompt, reasoned responses to proposals or questions and when the replies are considered unsatisfctory or when some new facts have come to light, they may raise the subject again. The BOs and the leading bodies are obliged to take seriously any issue arising to the detriment of a Party member and to make sure that the Member is promptly informed thereof.

- To take part in party assemblies and meetings of the bodies or committees to which they belong, when an issue is brought up with respect to actions of theirs.

- to demand the undeviating application of the operating regulations of the Party’s organisations and bodies.

Article 6

All Party members have the same rights and obligations. Communists cannot themselves possess nor can they tolerate the existence of privileges deriving from their membership in the Party.

CPG members shall cultivate and develop comradeship in dealing with party issues and in relations with their comrades. They are distinguishable for their ethical stance towards their fellow humans, at work, in the family and in daily life in general.

Article 7

KKE, which is fighting for the equality of the sexes in the society, believes that promoting equality within its own ranks is a prerequisite for success in this regard.

Recruiting women into the Party must be a permanent concern. All Party organisations must ensure permanent and firm action on women’s rights and their participation in social and political struggles.

Article 8

Members who move from one organisation into the range of another must notify their original organisation in good time, ensuring an unbroken link with the organisation to which they are going. For the transfer of cadres, approval is required from the responsible leading body.

II. ORGANISING PRINCIPLES ON WHICH KKE IS CONSTITUTED AND OPERATES

Article 9

The structure and operation of KKE is based on the principle of democratic centralism.

Democratic centralism ensures the Party the ability, through broad, free discussion, to generalise the views and experiences of Party members, of non-members and of the working people, to arrive at collective decisions and at the same time to act with unity, resoluteness and discipline in implementing them.

In application of this principle, th creation and activity of organised groups within the Party is not permitted. This would undermine its unity, its democratic operation and its effective action.

The main components of democratic centralism are: democracy within the party and centralism.

Democracy within the party means:

Equality of all Party members with respect to their rights and obligations. Ensuring the right to express their opinions freely and responsibly on all Party issues, in accordance with the Statutes.

The electability and removability of leading bodies or members of these bodies, rom the Bureau of the BO up to the Central Committee. Regular and extraordinary accountability to the organisations and Conferences that elected them. Systematic information of party organisations about their decisions.

Ensuring the personal contribution, initiative and responsibility of all Party members in making and implementing decisions.

Ensuring all Party members’ right to vote and stand for election.

Initiatives by all party organisations to solve their local issues independently and responsibly within the framework of the Party’s policy and general positions.

Centralism means:

Bringing the operation and activity of all Party organisations under one single centre, the Central Committee, which is the supreme organ during the period between congresses.

That decisions made by higher leading bodies must be implemented by lower bodies, Party organisations and Party members. Conscientious Party discipline where the minority submits to the will of the majority. In the event of disagreement, those who disagree are obliged to implement the decision made by the majority.

Article 10

Follow-up, criticism and self-criticism are comonent elements of the Party’s operation. They help in implementing decisions, developing action, generalising experience, dealing with weaknesses, correcting mistakes, training cadres and members, and strengthening conscientious Party discipline. But criticism must be exercised only within the responsible Party bodies and Conferences. Cadres and members who obstruct criticism bear a grave responsibility and may be subject to penalties including expulsion from the Party.

Article 11

The supreme principle in Party leadership is that of collectivity, an indispensable condition for the normal operation and action of Party organisations, for the correct training of cadres, and for the development of activity and initiative by Party members.

The principle of collectivity restricts subjectivity, ensures the best, most comprehensive decisions, and contributes to the Party’s unity of action. In the Party, it must not be possible for one-person decisions to replace the collective decisions of its bodies.

The principle of collectivity does not abolish individual responsibility nor does it downgrade personal contribution. Within the collectivity, the personal features of every Party member can and must show through.

Article 12

Leading bodies, secretaries and their Bureaus, as well as representatives to Conferences, are elected by secret ballot, according to the procedure set out in the regulations. Persons who gather 50% + 1 of the votes cast by those present and entitled to vote are considered to have been elected. If, after two successive ballots, the candidates do not collect the 50% + 1 required for election, in the third and final ballot, they are elected on the basis of who has reeived the greatest number of crosses.

All other decisions on political issues, as well as on current problems, are taken by open ballot and a relative majority.

Article 13

a) The Party is structured on the basis of production and/or territory. Base Organisations are created in industries or other enterprises, in services, in sectors and in places where people live in towns and villages. Party members who work in large industries or other enterprises must belong to these organisations. Exceptions may be permitted by decision of the prefectural committees.

By decision of the Central Committee, when deemed necessary, Party organisations may be created in other countries in which Greek immigrants and students are resident.

b) Party Base Organissationsare joined together in organisations of districts, prefectures, and regions.

c) The main organisational levels are:

The Base Organisation (BO)

The District Committee

The Prefectural Committee

The Regional Committee

The Central Committee.

The Party Organisations of Athens, Piraeus and Thessaloniki are counterparts of Regional Organisations.

In places and sectors of particular importance, the Central Committee may set up a BO and party or district committees under its direct guidance.

III. THE LEADING BODIES OF KKE

Article 14

The congress is the Party’s supreme leading body A regular congress is convened by the Central Committee every four years.

An extraordinary congress may be convened.

By decision of the Central Committee,

Upon a proposal by a Regional Committee or by the City Committee from Athens, Piraeus or Thessaloniki, if approved by the other regional committees representing 50% of the members.

This proposal must be submitted to the Central Committee. The Central Committee is obliged to submit it to the judgement of the other regional committees and the City Committees of Athens, Piraeus and Thessaloniki within three months, at the latest, from its date of submittion. The Central Committee is obliged to hold a congress within at most two months. In both cases, an extraordinary congress cannot be convened on the same issues before one year has elapsed.

Article 15

The decision to hold a congress and the issues to be discussed at it are announced by the Central Committee at least three months before it is to take place.

The congress is in quorum when the number of delegates present constitutes the majority of the delegates elected.

The delegates to the congress are elected in a uniform ratio which the Central Committee lays down, by regional conferences and organisations under the direct guidance of the Central Committee. Members of the Central Committee and the Central Audit Committee who have not been elected delegates may take part in the congress with the right to speak.

Article 16

The Party Congress:

For a person to be elected to these bodies, he or she must have at least seven years of Party life.

The number of members of the Central Committee and the Central Audit Committee is determined by the congress.

Article 17

The Central Committee is the Party’s leading body between congresses:

a) It guides the Party’s entire ideological, political and organisational activity.

b) It regularly examines the Political Bureau’s report of its activities.

c) It sets out the Party’s policy and relations with other parties or organisations on the basis of the directions laid down by the congress.

d) It appoints the persons to be responsible for the Party’s main mass media, both press and electronic media.

e) It decides to create auxiliary sections and committees of the Central Committee and appoints persons to head them.

f) It decides on the candidates for public elected offices of broader or national importance.

g) It decides to recall Party members occupying public elected national offices.

h) It determines the percentage of revenues which must be handed in by the Party organisations to its central Treasury. It manages the Party’s finances, enterprises and all its property.

Article 18

The Central Committee elects the General Secretary and Political Bureau. The Political Bureau is responsible for leading the Party between sessions of the Central Committee on the basis of the latter’s decisions. The number of its members is determined by the Central Committee. Between Central Committee sessions, the Political Bureau briefs its members about Party matters. The Political Bureau, in all its actions and operations, must reinforce the leading role and responsibility of the Central Committee.

The Central Committee elects a secretariat from among its members. The Secretariat is engaged in leading the organisations, in monitoring the implementation of decisions and in dealing with on-going Central Committee and Political Bureau matters.

The number of members of the Secretariat and its precise duties are determined by the Central Committee.

Article 19

The Central Committee meets in regular sessions every four months and extraordinarily by decision of the Political Bureau.

The members of the Central Audit Committee take part in Central Committee sessions with the right to speak and cast an advisory vote.

In special cases, the Central Committee may convene an extended session in which other party cadres, selected by the CC, may take part.

Article 20

The Central Committee elects the Party Control Committee (PCC) which: examines charges brought by Party organisations and members against members, bodies and organisations with respect to violations of Party discipline, of the Statutes, and of the Programme; it also examines objections against decisions to expel members from the Party or to impose other penalties. A report is drafted containing proposals to be sent to the Central Committee for final decisions.

It examines applications for the reinstatement of Party members who have for various reasons lost their Party membership, and determines the number of years of their Party life.

The Party Control Committee (PCC) elects a chairman from among its members.

Article 21

The Central Audit Committee monitors financial activity and the treasury, audits the management of the Party’s finances, the finances of its enterprises and informs the Central Committee thereof regularly.

The Central Audit Committee elects a chairman from among its members.

Article 22

During the period between congresses, the Central Committee of KKE may call a nationwide Party conference:

Obligatorily, if there has been a decision by a previous congress to examine a particular issue, or

If it judges that a serious matter has arisen in political life or that there is an extremely serious need to discuss problems of concern to the Party.

The following will take part in such a conference: The members of the Central Committee, the members of the Central Audit Committee, delegates from Party organisations elected by the regional committes and the City Committees of Athens, Piraeus and Thessaloniki.

The conference can made decisions within the framework of the Party’s Programme and Statutes and may fill in up to 1/10 of the members of the Central Committee.

The Central Committee will set the agenda for the conference and announce it at least one (1) month before the conference is to be held.

The Central Committee will decide on the number of delegates to be elected in a uniform ratio.

Article 23

The supreme body among Party organisations on the district, prefectural and regional level is the corresponding Party conference and for BOs it is the general assembly of its members.

Between Party conferences, it is the relevant district, prefectural and regional committee.

Article 24

The regular district conference is convened by the District Committee every year, with the exception of the district organisation conferences of Athens, Piraeus and Thessaloniki which are convened every two years. The regular conference of prefectures and regions is convened every two years by the relevant committees.

Extraordinary conferences are convened: a) By decision of the relevant leading bodies and on approval by the immediately higher body. b) By decision of the higher body. c) When requested by the leading bodies or the BO of the organisation in question representing 1/3 of its members.

Article 25

Delegates to the conferences of the relevant organisations are elected in a uniform ratio determined by the leading bodies in question in accordance with Central Committee regulations.

The conferences of party organisations: discuss and decide on the report to be submitted to the leading bodies and audit committees, discuss and decide on matters related to Party work in their field, and elect the leading body and audit committee. For members to be elected to the District Committee, they must have two years of Party life, three years for the Prefectural Committee and five years for the Regional Committee.

Article 26

The leading bodies for districts, prefectures and regions elect a secretary and a Bureau.

The Bureau leads all the work between Committee conferences. The election of Committee members, the secretary and the Bureau are ratified by the higher leading body.

Regional Committees meet in a regular session every three months; prefectural and district committees every two months. They meet extreaordinarily by decision of the Committee Bureaus or by decision of the higher leading body.

The Audit Committees supervise financial activity, the treasuries and the regular collection of dues; they also manage the finances of the relevant organisations down to and including Base Organisations.

Article 27

For a cadre to be selected and promoted to the leading bodies, he or she must have a heightened sense of Party responsibility. The collective assessment of the cadres’ performance and the essential procedures for their election must be ensured in compliance with the regulations.

Particular care must be shown in the composition of the leading bodies. It is necessary for all sectors of Party work to be represented on them, so that they may reflect and enhance its nature as a Party of the working class. There must be constant care to elect women to all leading bodies, and to ensure a harmonious blend of older and younger cadres.

The alternation of cadres on leading bodies, as well as in elected public offices, in local goernment and in the mass movement must be a permanent element in the policy regarding cadres.

Article 28

Positions which may become vacant on the Central Committee between congresses are filled by the election of new members at a national conference,

if the CC deems necessary. For other leading bodies between conferences, new members may be taken on if judged necessary, on the responsibility of the relevant leading body. Taking on a new member requires the consenting opinion of 2/3 of the members of the body in question and approval by the higher leading body. The number of new members must not exceed 1/10 of the existing members of the body in question.

Article 29

The leading bodies from the CC to the Bureau of the BO, in the middle and at the end of their term, judge the work of the body and of its members.

These assessments are made available for the information of all BOs for which these bodies are responsible.

Article 30

Procedural issues related to holding election meetings and conferences are determined in a regulation decided upon by the CC.

Article 31

In order to permit fuller study and reflection on various issues and to facilitate the practical application of the Party’s decisions, special auxiliary sections, Party groups and committees may be created alongside the leading bodies.

When decisions are being made about the cadres who are to participate in the auxiliary sections, Party groups and committees, the opinion of the BO and organisations to which the cadres belong is necessarily requested.

Article 32

The leading bodies call regular meetings of the cadres in every organisation. These meetings are of an advisory nature.

Article 33

Before taking decisions of general significance, and if circumstances permit, the leading bodies must take into account the opinion of the lower Party bodies and members.

Article 34

KKE has the following mass communications media:

Rizospastis, organ of KKE’s Central Committee, is the Party’s daily newspaper. The Central Committee is responsible for publishing it and for its general directions, and appoints its management.

Rizospastis promotes and defends the ideology and policy of KKE. It publicises and defends the interests of the working class, the working people, and the mass movement more generally. It provides full information on developments in Greece and throughout the world.

Communistiki Epitheorisi (COMEP) is the Party’s theoretical and political journal, organ of the Central Committee. It is directed by an editorial committee appointed by the Central Committee.

KKE may create or participate in other central or regional mass media. The Central Committee sets out the terms, framework and aims of KKE in each particular case.

IV. THE PARTY’S BASE ORGANISATION (BO)

Article 35

The Party’s Base Organisation (BO) is the foundation of the Party; it is the Party in the field of the organisation’s activity.

BOs are created in every self-sufficient area in which there are at least three Party members, with the approval of the higher body.

Where BOs do not exist, they are created upon the responsibility of the higher body, and consist of Party members who blong to other BOs.

BOs which do not fulfil their purpose are dissolved by decision of the higher body and with the approval of the Central Committee.

Article 36

Once a year the BO meets in a general account-and-election assembly to elect the secretary and Bureau who are accountable to the BO.

In BOs with up to ten (10) members, one secretary is elected together with one alternate. In BOs with ten and more members, a Bureau is elected. The number of its members is determined by the assembly, in proportion to the number of BO members.

The BO secretary is elected directly by the general assembly of BO members.

Article 37

To improve their operation, BOs can create sections or working groups based on the criterion of place of residence, occupation, specialisation. Sections and working groups elect their head, meet to particularise BO decisions and to monitor their implementation by members in their field, and are accountable to the BO assembly.

Article 38

The BO assembly is convened at least once a month by decision of the BO Bureau or its higher body. To call an assembly requires the full briefing of all its members in good time.

The assembly is in quorum when 50% +1 of its members are present. The BO assembly approves the agenda either when the items proposed by the Bureau or with whatever items it may decide to discuss.

The main reports at the assembly are presented by the BO Bureau, the higher leading bodies and Party members, on approval by the Bureau. The assembly expresses views on the main report, concludes with concrete decisions and practical measures and distributes the task of implementing the decisions of the BO and higher bodies. At every assembly, and during the period between two assemblies, systematic checks are conducted as to the implementation of decisions and the mobilisation of members, on the responsibility of the BO Bureau and the assembly itself.

Article39

The main competencies of the BO are:

a) It looks after bringing new members into the Party and into the corresponding bodies of KNE.

b) It is responsible for deciding on issues in its field within the framework of the Party’s policies and decisions.

c) It works out and promotes positions and proosals on the problems in its field, seeking their broadest possible acceptance by the working people. It contributes to and is in the front ranks of organising the fight to solve these problems.

d) It participates responsibly and actively in working out the Party’s policy and decisions. It particularises, popularises and applies the Party’s policy and the decisions of the leading bodies in a creative manner.

e) It organises ideological and informative work among its members and more generally among working people and youth.

f) It takes care of the daily dissemination and study of Rizospastis and the Party’s other printed matter.

g) It makes an effort to gather and build the Party’s financial resources and takes responsibility for managing the amount allocated to it to cover its financial neds.

h) It is linked with the mass organisations in its field and seeks to coordinate the common struggle. It knows, is in direct contact with and utilises the Party’s followers, friends and voters. It ensures that they are kept informed on political matters, on the Party’s policy, decisions and activity.

i) It offers its full ideological, political and organisational assistance to the corresponding KNE bodies. It ensures continuing creative collaboration. It discusses the problems of youth and fosters the daily interest of its members in KNE.

Article 40

All the BO members undertake specific duties and work to accomplish them. They give an account, follow up and are followed up with respect to their action and to the activity of the BO.

Party cadres, to whichever leading body they may belong, participate regularly in their BO, are given duties by the BO and contribute to its exemplary activity.

Article 41

A BO may address itself to the leading bodies and to the CC to request information and identify issues to be solved.

The leading bodies, within a short period of time, must provide or convey responsible replies to the BO assembly in the presence of a member of the above leading body.

V. COMMUNISTS IN MASS ORGANISATIONS AND IN PUBLIC OFFICES

Article 42

KKE pays particular attention to developing the class orientation of the mass movement, and above all in the labour movement.

To assist Party members’ coordination and united action and generally to help them fulfil their mision through the corresponding mass workers’ and popular organisations, the leading Party bodies may form Party groups which act under their guidance. These groups are composed of members elected by their executives and other Party members. If there are no elected Party members, a small Party group is formed of members belonging to and working actively in the particular organisation.

Party groups, with the consenting opinion of the Party organisations, may hold meetings of Party members ane followers belonging to and active in these fields.

Party groups discuss the problems in their sector of activity on the basis of the Party’s general positions and the directions handed down by the corresponding leading bodies. They defend their self-sufficiency and democratic operation and develop the class orientation of the organisations mobilised.

Article 43

The Party members who are elected to legislative bodies, to representative or other elected bodies, shall apply the policy and decisions of the Party and defend the people’s general interests consistently.

For Party members to be nominated for elected office, the opinion of the BO and other organisations to which they belong must be obtained.

The post they occupy shall be at the disposition of the Party.

The salaries, compensations and pensions, or other financial benefits deriving from the elected office, are to be disposed of according to a decision by the Central Committee. The Party takes into account the cadres’ needs arising from the demands of the office and takes care that they are covered to the degree possible.

Members of Parliament and of the Europarliament who are Party members constitute the Parliamentary Group. Its operation and the content of its activity are determined by the Party’s Central Committee.

VI. RELATIONS BETWEEN THE PARTY AND KNE

Article 44

KKE throughout its history has always paid special attention to the training and problems of Greek youth.

a) The Communist Youth of Greece (KNE) is a mass, organisationally self-sufficient political organisation of Greek youth. It is guided ideologically and politically by KKE, accepts its programmes and promotes its policy.

b) The leading bodies of the Party take care to ensure that the action of the Party is coordinated with that of the counterpart KNE bodies, from its Central Council to its BOs. They are responsible for providing the KNE organisations with every possible political and ideological assistance needed to rally young people and achieve their militant mobilisation, to defend their rights and to broaden its influence among the youth, for the militant training of its members and their preparation for admission to the ranks of KKE.

c) The counterpart KNE organisations are represented at the Party congress, at its Conferences and at its BO conferences by a delegation that has the right to speak.

VII. THE PARTY’S FINANCES

Article 45

The Party’s financial resources are derived form the members’ dues, from fund-raising campaigns, from voluntary contributions, donations or bequests, from entrepreneurial activities developed by the Party, from the salaries, pensions and compensations received by members elected or delegated by the Party to public offices, and from the state financing to which the Party is entitled.

Article 46

The Central Committee stipulates the amount of the members’ monthly dues which shall not be less than 1% of their income. It also stipulates the percentage of the organisations’ financial proceeds that they must hand over to the Central Committee.

Article 47

KKE budget is approved by the Central Committee. Each organisation’s budget is approved by the relevant bodies. Each Audit Committee presents a report and financial statements to the bodies by which it has been elected.

The Central Committee manages the Party’s finances and property and provides regular briefings to Party members about the general state of the finances. It appoints a Finance Committee which monitors and directs the sectors in question.

Article 48

The financial management carried out by the Party organisations is audited on a permanent, continuous basis by the relevant audit committees.

The reports and conclusions of these committes are always available to Party bodies and members of the organisation in question. The Central Audit Committee may audit the finances of the Party organisations.

Article 49

Misappropriation of Party funds is punishable by expulsion.

VIII. MEASURES TO UPHOLD AND DEFEND THE STATUTES

Article 50

Upholding and defending the provisions of the Statutes is the responsibility of every member, organisation and body of KKE.

Party members, cadres, organisations and bodies which violate the Statutes are subject to the following disciplinary penalties, according to the offence:

Notice

Centure

Warning of expulsion

Expulsion from the Party.

For serious offences by cadres in leading bodies, the body itself may impose the penalty of removal from office.

Article 51

Undermining Party unity, attempting to create groups or groupings, and violating the rules for safeguarding the Party are punished severely, with penalties including expulsion from the Party.

Refusal to carry out Party decisions and other actions which damage the Party’s interests and violate Party discipline shall result in party sanctions which may, according to the seriousness of the actions involved, include expulsion.

Members whose actions and conduct are not compatible with membership in the Party must certainly be expelled, in particular members who betray the Party to the class enemy, to the Security Police, under interrogation, in the courts; members who misappropriate funds belonging to the Party or to other organisations in which they represent the Party, as well as members whose behaviour and conduct is incompatible with the requirements of Party loyalty and ethics.

Likewise expelled from the Party is the member who, without due reason, has not paid his dues for more than six consecutive months.

Article 52

A member is also cut off from his organisational relationship with the Party either when he withdraws, or is constantly absent without due reason from Party activities. In such cases, the BO removes the person’s name from its membership.

Article 53

The BOs and all Party Conferences and bodies have the right to impose penalties.

To expel a person from the Party requires a decision from the BO assembly, which decision is enforced after being ratified by the immediately higher body.

If necessary, the expulsion decision may be published in the Party press.

The Conferences and bodies higher than the BOs can submit proposals for expulsions to the BOs. In exceptional cases, the Central Committee may decide to expel a Party member. This right is used for serious reasons in the case of Party members whose field of responsibility extends beyond the limits of the BO to which they belong.

Article 54

When the Statutes are violated by an entire organisation or leading body, then the penalty imposed by the immediately higher Party bodies may include dissolution of that organisation or body, to be followed by its reconstitution. For such a decision to be implemented requires approval by the Central Committee.

Article 55

The decision to impose any penalty whatsoever, and particularly that of expulsion from the Party, must be taken with the greatest care, and there must be verification of whether the charges laid are in fact well grounded.

No penalty or sanction shall be imposed on any member whatsoever if he is not informed of the charges against him and without giving him the opportunity to express and support his view before the body or Conference discussing his case.

No Party member will face repercussions for personal views expressed within the framework of the Statutes.

Article 56

Every Party member who considers that the penalty imposed on him is unjust or excessive has the right to register an objection with the higher party bodies, up to the Central Committee, the Party Control Committee and the Party congress.

The penalties may be re-examined by the Conferences or bodies that imposed them, or by the higher bodies and the Central Committee.

COMMUNIST PARTY OF GREECE

145 Leof. Irakliou, GR-142 31 Nea Ionia, Athens, Greece. Tel: (301) 259-2111.

Fax: 259-2298 E-mail: cpg@int.kke.gr