Cyprus elects its first communist president

Former Member

Story.

He's pro-EU and he's said he'll 'leave the free market alone' (see here) so I find the 'communist' description slightly odd... Interesting anyway. Given EU and Greek influence, the British on the island and Greek Cypriots being used to democracy, I don't think we can expect Castro-style communism though.

Former Member

There is such thing as democratic communist parties you know. There have existed in many countries in Europe (and probably elsewhere) and at no point have their policy been to do away with democracy if they won an election. I don't know if any of them have been in office by themselves but one or two have been in government coalitions.

Whether such parties are considered as real communist by non-democratic commies is another matter though.

Former Member

So many different types of government have been described as communist that it's impossible to know what he's on about. "Diluted Leninism." :chin: Would it be legal for them to refuse to hold free elections? I don't see how communism is compatible with the EU tbh if that's what you're talking about. And if that's not what they're on about, then when does socialism become communism?

Former Member

True but someone who once described the the disintegration of the Soviet Union as "a crime against humanity" doesn't really sound like a cuddly democracy loving democrat. Of course it's not been plain sailing, the effects of the Soviet Union's demise have been pretty bad socially but democracy has hardly been "a crime against humanity." You're right though - he's not going to abolish democracy, he's pro EU for starters and doesn't have a big problem with the free market... There's plenty of people on the left who despise the EU and have big problems with the free market but don't call themselves communists - making me think in Cyprus being a communist is a bit different to being a communist here.

Former Member

I think the Cypriot euro-'commie' et al are the political equivalent of trendies who wear che guevara T shirts etc. -they are more of an 'anti-establishment' fashion statement, but engagingly colourful.

Former Member

Of course the USSR was anything but a Communist State.

For me, being a Communist is adhereing to the points laid out by Marx in The Communist Manifesto.

Teh_Gerbil

Aladdin wrote: »

There is such thing as democratic communist parties you know.

WRONG. Two ideas which are completley incompatible. It's called "Socialism".

Communist Democracy is an impossible situation. Democracy is a liberalist idea. It is also impossible to achieve Communism when a new leadership can be elected with opposing views. This is why communism accepts that a dictatorship is required for a time of transition - were the leadership to change the goals could never be achieved.

Alladin, I expected better of you.