Lotte Rortoft-Madsen – Denmark

25th PRAGUE THEORETICAL-POLITICAL CONFERENCE

On the Current Problems of the Unity of the Communist Movement

November 15, 2008

Intervention by Danish Communist Party

Allow me first of all to thank the Prague branch of the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia for inviting Danish Communist Party to this conference, thereby creating the possibility for us to present our views, and take part in the discussions.

No one here would deny the need to strengthen the inter-party relations of the international communist movement. This need is so obvious, facing the necessary struggle against imperialism, be it American or European, facing the dangers of the aggressive NATO-alliance and the dangers of war in general. And it is obvious having in mind the present crisis of the capitalist and imperialist system, which is being reflected in the financial crises and recession worldwide.

All of these developments demand closer cooperation and mutual exchange of political analyses and theoretical thinking in our effort to establish alternatives to neoliberalism and reformism – and of course they demand common action where possible.

Since its founding only two years ago in November 2006, Danish Communist Party has considered the building of relations with the international communist movement an important goal.

Through our participation in bilateral and multilateral meetings, in congresses and conferences we have aimed at giving our contribution to the strengthening of the unity of the international communist movement, always on the basis of the general principles of Marxism-Leninism. Developing relations with parties in Europe which are confronted with the policies of the European Union is given special priority.

Our party has condemned anticommunism in the former socialist countries and expressed solidarity with the communist youth organisation KSM and other organisations and parties which are persecuted.

Our party wants cooperation and connections with all communist parties on the basis of mutual respect and non-interference in internal matters. We are in favour of developing the communist movement as an independent political force with its own political profile, upholding socialism and communism as its strategic objective.

At the same time we are not narrow-minded. Even when ideological and political differences exist, or when more than one party exists in a country, we are in favour of developing relations.

We are not sitting in judgement of communists of other countries. The international communist movement can only be strengthened if the parties in each country strengthen themselves. At present the international communist movement is no stronger than the parties which form it.

In some countries the communist forces are organised in different parties. These splits are harmful for the entire movement.

The very formation of our party two years ago was a result of an effort to unify the atomised communist movement in Denmark. Our common goal was to build a Marxist-Leninist class party with Democratic Centralism as the organising principle. The immediate task before us was to unify two currents in the communist movement, historically divided through decades.

Achieving unity was not easy, and the process of unification was difficult. Despite the fact that the ideological differences were – and still are – too insignificant to justify a division in several parties, we faced many obstacles. And much to our regret, we did not achieve unification of all communists in one party.

Nevertheless, we estimate the process as absolutely necessary, and evaluate its outcome as a positive result. Today our party is a living force.

From our experience throughout the process of unity we have been able to draw some conclusions on the reasons why this unification was made possible. I would like to share these conclusions with you:

1. Creating unity in crucial theoretical, ideological, and political questions and using this in developing a foundation for building a party, was decisive.
2. Preceding and ongoing cooperation on a local level, as well as cooperation in various national movements was essential in creating mutual confidence and mutual experience.
3. A common acknowledgement of the necessity of the new party – objectively as well as subjectively.
4. Determination to obtain unity was an important force throughout the process.
5. Keeping focus on obtained agreements – and not on disagreements – was a decisive momentum of the process.
6. Since two organisations were acting, principles of equity, equality, and consensus must be upheld in the process.
7. Ability to distinguish matters of superiority from the inferior, objectivity from subjectivity was decisive.
8. Deliberately involving the membership in the process, deploying maximum democracy, and focusing on theory, ideology, and politics, created the foundation of a future common ownership of the new party.

These, comrades, were some of the experience of the Danish Communist Party in unifying the communists of our country. Thank you for listening. I look forward to our discussion.

Lotte Rørtoft-Madsen

Member of the National Board