Belgian elections (municipal), commies do okay.

[Tim Cornelis]

The Belgian PVDA+, a communist party, did fairly well in the municipal elections of 2012. Red! (appears to work with Trotskyists) also received 0,5-1% of votes in many municipalities.
In the large city of Antwerpen the PVDA received 7,96% of the votes (the Trotskyist LSP received 2,000 votes, or 1%).
In Genk, the PVDA received 8,84%.
In other municipalities very little.

[Mass Grave Aesthetics]

I assume PDVA is Parti du Travail de Belgique (Workers´ Party of Belgium). This is a marxist- leninist/maoist party who has been trying it´s luck electorally via shameless populism as far as I know. I fail to see how it´s success doing so is good news to communists. We might as well be salute the electoral successes of official social democracy around the world. At least those fuckers tend to have a shred of decency and honesty, unlike these 1960´s maoists.

[Yet_Another_Boring_Marxist]

I assume PDVA is Parti du Travail de Belgique (Workers´ Party of Belgium). This is a marxist- leninist/maoist party who has been trying it´s luck electorally via shameless populism as far as I know. I fail to see how it´s success doing so is good news to communists. We might as well be salute the electoral successes of official social democracy around the world. At least those fuckers tend to have a shred of decency and honesty, unlike these 1960´s maoists.
Populism?

The point sir, isn't to be "decent"

The point is to win.

Most of us would agree that the bloodbath that was the Russian Civil War era repression was a nessecary evil, so I don't see why a little bit of populism is something so incomprehensible.

[Geiseric]

Can we see an example of how shitty this party is?

[Flying Purple People Eater]

Populism?

The point sir, isn't to be "decent"

The point is to win.

Most of us would agree that the bloodbath that was the Russian Civil War era repression was a nessecary evil, so I don't see why a little bit of populism is something so incomprehensible.

Argumental Fallacy No. #204: compare two completely different things as an excuse for supporting an anti-marxist group with ambiguous relations that does nothing but alienate the working class.

They're just another bourgeois party with a red flag masquerading as communists. Fuck 'em!

[Q]

Can we see an example of how shitty this party is?

Well, this is their idea of waging a political campaign on May Day, for one:


http://www.stophetpolitiekecircus.be/uploads/pics/p07_1er_mei_limburg__600_x_600__01.jpg
The slogan says "stop the political circus - participate in the red nose protest!"

Programmatically they try to emulate the Dutch SP in watering down the programme and merely agitate for "people before profit" and introducing things like the "kiwi model" in healthcare (a reference to the New Zealand model, which is apparently oh so much socialist).

Another slogan is to "take the money from the millionairess, top bankers and speculators". It is sad, but they don't differ that much from other groups. The Dutch International Socialists for example (franchise of the SWP UK) have a very similar slogan. As if taxing the rich is going to solve anything.

So, I agree that calling them "communists" is very much stretching the term, as their programme doesn't lead to anywhere near that.

[The Douche]

Populism?

The point sir, isn't to be "decent"

The point is to win.

Most of us would agree that the bloodbath that was the Russian Civil War era repression was a nessecary evil, so I don't see why a little bit of populism is something so incomprehensible.


The Communists disdain to conceal their views and aims. They openly declare that their ends can be attained only by the forcible overthrow of all existing conditions.-Ya boy Engels.

[Die Neue Zeit]

There are correct and incorrect approaches to populism. This stooping down to the lowest liberal denominator is the wrong way.

[Sankara1983]

What political tendency in the world outside the far left would consider getting "0,5-1% of votes" a success?