Dimitris Koutsoumpas, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Greece, delivered a live address at the 90th Thessaloniki International Fair on Thursday.
Speaking from the Vellidion Conference Centre in Thessaloniki, Koutsoumpas told attendees that working people have the capacity to block anti-popular plans and achieve significant victories.
The speech, broadcast live on Thursday evening at 9:17 pm, focused on the political and economic platform of the party. Koutsoumpas outlined specific proposals from the Communist Party of Greece regarding the national economy, emphasizing the need for organized popular resistance against government policies.
The Communist Party of Greece, known by its Greek acronym KKE, is one of the country's oldest parliamentary political organizations. The Thessaloniki International Fair is held annually in September in Greece's second largest city, serving as a traditional venue where political party leaders present their major policy speeches for the upcoming year. The Vellidion Conference Centre is the principal convention hall within the fairgrounds designated for major political events and national press conferences.
Economic proposals and political opposition
During his address to the fair, Koutsoumpas highlighted economic reform measures put forward by the party to address living costs and social welfare. He stated that organized public action remains an effective method for reversing unfavorable policy decisions and securing improvements for working families.
The speech took place alongside broader political and civic developments in Greece. Various organizations issued formal condolence messages following the death of Alekos Kalyvis, a prominent trade union leader who served as a senior official in both GSEE and OTOE.
GSEE, the General Confederation of Greek Workers, is the primary umbrella union representing private-sector employees in Greece, while OTOE represents workers across the Greek banking sector. Both organizations play a central role in national labor negotiations and workforce advocacy.
In other political activity surrounding the fair, Nikos Androulakis addressed growing political trends across the continent. Androulakis emphasized the necessity of implementing European policies rooted in solidarity to stem the rise of far-right political parties in Europe.
Androulakis leads the Panhellenic Socialist Movement, known as PASOK, which is one of the main opposition parties in the Hellenic Parliament. European political leaders have increasingly debated joint strategies to address political polarization and economic uncertainty across member states.
Additionally, PASOK official Kostas Tsoukalas released a formal statement regarding the political landscape and the governing New Democracy party. Tsoukalas asserted that PASOK offers the only political program capable of presenting a direct alternative to the current administration.
New Democracy is the centre-right ruling party of Greece, holding a parliamentary majority. The Thessaloniki International Fair traditionally marks the beginning of the political season, where rival political parties present alternative manifestos to the electorate.
