Revolutionary Communist Party (Argentina)

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Revolutionary Communist Party
Partido Comunista Revolucionario
Slogan"Seamos libres, lo demás no importa nada."
Chamber of Deputies
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Senate
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Website
www.pcr.org.ar Edit this at Wikidata
PCR mural

The Revolutionary Communist Party (Spanish: Partido Comunista Revolucionario) is a Marxist–Leninist–Maoist political party in Argentina.

The party is part of the Union for the Homeland coalition that supported the presidential candidate Sergio Massa during the 2023 Argentine general election.

History

Beginnings as PC(CNRR)

The party emerged from a split in the Communist Party of Argentina in 1967.[3] On January 6, 1968 (the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party) the dissidents formed the Communist Party – National Revolutionary Recovery Committee (Spanish: Partido Comunista-Comité Nacional de Recuperación Revolucionaria, abbreviated PC(CNRR)).[3][4][5] The founders of PC(CNRR) came mainly from the Communist Youth Federation (FJC), although the group also included some Communist Party cadres.[5] Leaders of PC(CNRR) included Jorge Rocha, Carlos Echagüe, Lucila Irene Edelman, Ricardo Helman, José Ratzer, Antonio Sofía and Otto C. Vargas (veteran leader of FJC and erstwhile secretary of La Plata Zone Committee of the Communist Party).[4][6][7] PC(CNRR) published Nueva Hora.[4] PC(CNRR) rejected the Communist Party line of building a broad democratic front, accusing the Communist Party of 'conciliation with imperialism' and 'class conciliation'.[8] In contrast to the democratic front line of the old party, PC(CNRR) called for the building of a national liberation front.[5] PC(CNRR) sought to work within the Communist Party, to gain followers amongst its ranks.[9][10]

PC(CNRR) was active inside the Argentine University Federation (FUA).[10] In late 1967 the Communist Party dissidents (that soon would form PC(CNRR)) set up the Textile Organizational and Struggle Command (COLT) as its front group amongst textile workers.[11]

On January 10, 1969, the name PCR was adopted,[3] marking a definite break with the old Communist Party.[9]

Development towards Maoism

Initially PC(CNRR)/PCR had a 'guevarist' orientation.[12] The party turned towards Maoism following a visit to China by a PCR delegation in 1972.[12] The development of a Maoist identity of party led to a split, in which the adherents of immediate armed struggle were expelled from the party.[12]

Involvement in automobile industry unions

PCR sought to organize workers in the automobile industry, by distribution of pamphlets at factory gates and sending some of its cadres to take up employment at factories.[13] In the wake of the 1969 Cordobazo, the PCR identified the Perdiel plant as a priority for union organizing.[14] Soon the PCR-dominated left opposition began gaining influence at the plant.[12] On May 12, 1970, PCR activists took a group of French supervisors hostage at the Perdriel plant of IKA-Renault.[13][14] This action was done in protest against the removal of leftist candidates in the local union election.[13] The factory management caved in and reinstated the leftist candidates.[13] The May 12, 1970 factory occupation marked the start of more militant industrial struggles in Argentina.[13]

In late 1971, ahead of the 1972 Union of Automotor Transport Mechanics and Similar Trades (Smata) union election in Córdoba, PCR and other left groups (Communist Party,

Central Committee member of the party, was elected general secretary of SMATA-Córdoba, accompanied by Roque Romero as assistant secretary.[3][12][14][15]

FRA and the 1975 crisis

Ahead of the March 1973 general election, the PCR formed the Fuerza Revolucionaria Antiacuerdista (FRA, "Revolutionary Anti-Accord Force") together with Communist Vanguard and independent left groups.[16]

In 1975, the PCR called for support to Isabel Perón's government.[17]

After the return of democracy (since 1983)

PCR set up the

Party of Labour and of the People (PTP) as a separate entity to build a broader, legal base.[18] PTP contested the 1987 legislative election.[5]

In the 1989 general election PTP supported the candidature of Carlos Menem for president and his Frejupo alliance. Clelia Íscaro of PTP (i.e. PCR) stood as a parliamentary candidate for Frejupo.[5]

PTP contested the 1993 legislative election.[5]

Following the struggles after the events in

blank vote) and call for insurrection.[5][19]

The PCR today

Involvement in the Piquetero movement

Nestor Kirchner administration, as FTV favoured cooperation with the new government whilst CCC rejected it.[20][21]

Rural movements

PCR maintains networks within agrarian movements such as Movimiento Mujeres en Lucha (MML), Juventud Agraria and Federación Agraria Argentina (FAA).[5]

Outreach

PCR publishes Hoy as its main organ.,[19] and counts with a youth wing of the party called Revolutionary Communist Youth (Juventud Comunista Revolucionaria, JCR).[5] JCR publishes the monthly La Chispa.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b "Quiénes somos". Página oficial del PCR. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  2. ^ "Mujer de la tierra preamericana".
  3. ^ a b c d Partido Comunista Revolucionario de la Argentina. Fundado el 6 de enero de 1968 – Partido Comunista Revolucionario de la Argentina
  4. ^ .
  5. ^ .
  6. ^ Panorama semanal. Panorama S.A.P. y E. 1968. p. 94.
  7. ^ Richard Felix Staar; Milorad M. Drachkovitch; Lewis H. Gann (1972). Yearbook on International Communist Affairs. Hoover Institution on War, Revolution and Peace, Stanford University. p. 311.
  8. ^ William E. Ratliff (1971). Yearbook on Latin American Communist Affairs. Hoover Institution Press, Stanford University. p. 21.
  9. ^ .
  10. ^ .
  11. ^ Política Obrera. La crisis del COLT y el CNRR
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External links