The French Communist Party celebrated its 100th anniversary on December 30th. On this occasion, Robert Injey, the head of the PCF in Nice, discusses this political party in a series of articles.
100 years! It’s a grand age for a political force, especially at a time when label-switching in French political life is a constant. We are often accustomed to frequent changes in the names of political parties. The best example is undoubtedly that of the Gaullist family which, in less than 75 years, transitioned from the “RPF,” to the “UNR,” then to the “UDR,” followed by the “RPR,” which merged into the “UMP” before becoming “Les Républicains”! Whew! A frantic waltz of labels, likely to create the illusion of something new, when in the end it’s the same policy being applied, always serving the powers of money.
Changing the name? For 30 years, the question has often been posed to the communists. Some, in other countries, have done so. But in reality, this has often accompanied renunciation; the example of the PCI is the most striking. Ultimately, choosing to keep it is both the desire to embrace a history and not break with the struggles pursued for human emancipation. Besides, why abandon a name that is deeply entrenched in French history, well before the Congrès de Tours?
The roots of the French Communist Party run deep in the history of our country and, beyond that, they find their origins in millennial battles for human emancipation against tyranny, against barbarity, to denounce and fight against injustices. It is a fight that spans centuries and will continue to span them. It is the struggle of those who prioritize the common good over the greed of private interests.
It is a constant, incessant fight, reminiscent of what Ambroise Croizat said: “Do not talk about social gains, but about social conquests, because the employers never disarm.”
Robert Injey
