Euro' thieves fall out

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The nationalist and reactionary content of "Euro" Communism is thrown into sharp relief by the row between the French and Spanish Communist Parties.

Each side lines up behind sections of their own ruling class, and marches into the fray under the banner of 'national interest' George Marchais' French CP, for years a supporter of capitalist 'European integration' , has joined the ranks of those in France who oppose Spain's admission to the Common Market.

Important sections of French capitalism fear the results of additional competition from Spain, especially in food products and agriculture.

The French CP also fear the loss of votes among various sections of the peasantry if they don't defend protected and subsidised farms.

At the end Party went to the lengths of organising a day of demonstrations and 'action' (such as free glasses of wine!) in rural France against Spanish admission to the EEC.

The Spanish CP, no less passionately devoted to the 'national' interests of their owil bosses, responded angrily.

The French Communists, said leading Spanish Stalinist Manuel Azcarate, are using 'false and demagogic arguments' They were "re-awakening reactionary demons which, tomorrow will turn around against the French left itself"

Warming to his own line of 'internationalist rhetoric, Azcarate declared:

"It is revolting to see that the French Communists and Socialists can have fallen so low, and be so irrational in face of such a serious problem.

Have they forgotten, by any chance, that obsession with elections leads to opportunism?

Are they now aware they are playing the sorcerer's apprentice?"

This inter-Stalinist clash explodes all the pretence that "Euro" Communism is a new, progressive, 'liberalising' international trend.

Like the social democratic parties, Marchais and Carrillo line up not together but on opposite sides of national frontiers.

As a French CP spokesman put it, replying to Azcarate:

"We have adopted and we shall adopt our decisions in conformity with the national interest ...

IN THE WAKE of last month's coup in Mauritania, the Algerian government is forging ahead with its attempts to achieve 'stability' in north-west Africa by abandoning any support for the struggles of the Saharoui people.

The basis of an international deal to dispose of their right to self determination has certainly been agreed at the recent flurry of diplomatic meetings, which have included the Spanish government (former colonial rulers of the western Sahara) and the French government (directly involved in war against the liberation army of the Polisario Front). military rule under President Eanes.

One form of this which is being widely proposed is a non-party "government of personalities" appointed directly by Eanes.

Meanwhile the Stalinists and reformists opportunistically refuse the only principled response to this extreme new political danger for the working class -the formation of a Socialist Party-Communist Party government to defend, restore and enlarge the gains of the revolution.

They stand aside to let the bourgeoisie pass-and to slavishly hold up its coat-tails if they are asked.