European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 21, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Under the leadership of Achilla Occhetti Italy s communist party has moved toward the Center. Western Europe s communists mired in self-criticism1 Georges marshals general Secretary of the French communist party is under pressure to resign in the Wake of changes in other european communist parties. By Alan Riding new York times having seen their political mlle non Wane throughout the 1980s, the communist parties of Western Europe Are now being shaken by painful soul searching and bitter infighting As they struggle to survive the collapse of traditional communist governments in Eastern Europe in France and Portugal longtime pro soviet communist Bosses Are facing new challenges from change minded sectors of their parties while the Spanish communist party has opted Lor the strategy of working through a United left coalition including non marxists even the italian communist party which broke with Moscow in the 1970s, recognizes that its position As Italy s second political Force has been threatened by recent events in Eastern Europe it is now thinking of changing its name and dropping its Hammor and sickle Symbol at the heart of the debate is the question of How communist patties in Industrial democracies can disassociate themselves from the failure of their so. It bloc counterparts and retain some political Tele Anc without totally betraying then leftist principles communism has not yet existed . Argued Anict Lepors who is campaigning Lor change in the French communist party in my View it remains a nigh Ideal what s Bung condemned today is the socialism in the form of stalinism and not socialism itself yet while trying to emphasize marxist theory Over stalinist practice most Western leftists concede that they cannot ignore events in Eastern Europe the context in which our exceptional originality a sled has Achille Occhetti. Head of the italian communist party said today even the Small politically insignificant communist parties of Northern arc engage. N what is known in leftist circles As sell hic ism in Western Tut pc. Though it is perhaps Only in port i uni Italy and Greece ii it the is Eon lied important in those countries. Communist parties have All played major roles at diff tent limes world War ii they look part briefly in coalition government1 in Italy in the Kite 1940s and in France in the Early 980communists belong to an interim National unit coalition in Greece today in spam and Portugal the patties were banned by right Wing dictatorships that lasted until the mid 1970s but they survived underground in Spain. Communists never lost their influence Over the Tabot movement while in f Ortu Al they came close to Sci ing Power alter the was overthrown in 1974 in All five countries however communist parties Are lit weaker than they wore. Say. 1r3 Yeats ago. Losing ground to More moderate socialist anal Ocil democrats As Tow growing Prosperity of Western Lutone has weakened to r traditional support base among Industrial worker Virther with the exception of the mavcncl1 int Western f european communist parties Nave remain i burdened by their tack of internal do no racy a if subjugation to old time Bosses and of forded rein the 1970s , n if Iasi i Art t i of ten Cru trading thai a ,.,c u i ii Inas liable Dot pro full i Ai i1, " communist plies in the. More recently and i Tush italian communist Patty has moved i.-. A the Center Seel ing to identify itself with social democratic Rattler than communist parties elsewhere in Western Europe and dropping Calls lot class struggle in favor of i Elenson of inc in Iron ment and women s tights yet recent dramatic events in Eastern Europe have apparently convinced ochetto that More Chan san necessary including perhaps adoption of a ne.1. Name that omits the word communist a party congre.-, would to held in March he said to elect n commission that will prepare the party s new path while Italy s communists Are now mainly Conco Noii with changing their Public image most other major Western european parties have still to work Oul their internal Ditle fences. With the crisis of soviet bloc communism feeding tension by stimulating doctrinal debates and personality squabbles in Spain the longtime communist Leader Santiago Castillo was bowed out of Power yogis ago but it was no until last october s general elections that the part show of file Otilit by pining the socialists in a coalition running alone in 198g, it von 4 4 percent of the vote but As part of the United left its share.1 of the too Rose to 89 percent last year the party s new Leader. any Uila has nonetheless found himself Strug glug Loe Plain the democratic revolution in Eastern Europe for those who need catechisms perhaps there ate indeed none loft he said recently jul i reaffirm All my marxist ideas i have never Behoved in Paradise we Don t have one Here nor did they have one Over there socialism has still to be built " in contrast moves to modernize the communist parties in France and Portugal Are still being blocked by their aging orthodox Bosses Georges Marchais and Alvaro Cuthal respectively who have managed to remain in charge despite growing internal dissidence and shrinking Public support but both men Are now lacing serious challenges since the overthrow of president Nicolae Ceausescu of no Nania last month the Riew weapon being used against Marchais by critics inside his party is that poor judgment by vacationing in Romania at the invitation of the dictator in 1984 Tarcel Rigour a prominent dissident said the ouster of Atchis As parly Leader was a necessary condition for the party to be Able to change ils policies and confront what he described As the Complete failure of bureaucratic and statist socialism in Greece the communist party which was Long known As Moscow s most reliable ally in the West has also been thrown into disarray As much by the loss of Power of Friendly regimes in Eastern Europe As by disagreements Over Domestic politics sunday january 21, 1990 the stars and stripes Page 17
