1st of May, International Workers' Day, was celebrated with popular mobilisations across Europe. In many countries, workers, students and communists organized marches, mass rallies and demonstrations to mark the occasion.
Workers and communists celebrate 1st of May across Europe
Turkey
Various demonstrations were held across the country to celebrate May Day. The Communist Party of Turkey held mass demonstrations in four major cities: Ä°stanbul, Ankara, Ä°zmir and Adana.
Workers, intellectuals and party officials voiced messages of working class struggle, solidarity with the workers on strike, as well as support for the people of Cuba, Palestine, Iran and Lebanon.
At the gathering in İstanbul, General Secretary of TKP, Kemal Okuyan stated that “As the children of a country that showed the imperialists and the Sultan their place 100 years ago, as the children of a country that resisted imperialism and occupation, when we put the words socialism and republic side by side in Turkey, look how humanity and the world become more beautiful, how courageous, how they rise up.”
Greece
A march was held in Athens, the capital of Greece, to celebrate May Day.
Crowds gathered in central Athens at the call of the United Front of Struggling Workers (PAME), the Confederation of Civil Servants’ Unions (ADEDY), and the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE), and marched toward the parliament building.
Participants voiced messages of support for Palestine. Protesters chanted slogans such as “Free Palestine.”
Dimitris Koutsoumbas, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), who participated in the events in Athens, stated: “On this May Day, 140 years after the Chicago workers’ uprising for the eight-hour day, we move forward for new conquests: for a life without capitalist exploitation, without imperialist wars, and without economic crises, which are always paid for by the people.”
Similar enthusiastic marches and rallies were also organised across the country, particularly in towns like Thessaloniki.
Cyprus
In Cyprus, the Progressive Party of Working People (AKEL) and United Democratic Youth Organisation (EDON) organised many popular demonstrations across the country, in cities like Larnaca, Paphos, Limassol and Nicosia. In a social media statement, AKEL honored the struggle for 1st of May by stating “140 years after the bloody suppression of the May Day uprising of Chicago’s workers, the messages of that uprising remain alive and timeless.” and that “May Day is also connected to the wider struggles for social progress. In all these conquests the seal of AKEL, in its hundred-year historical course, is strong and indelible.
Italy
Thousands gathered in mass rallies to celebrate May 1st in Italy, across several cities like Milan, Turin, Naples, Venice and Palermo, in marches and events organised by Italy’s main confederation of labor unions, CGIL. The right-wing policy of the Meloni government were once again denounced by those attending the protests, as were Italy’s and the EU’s facilitation of the Israeli Zionist genocide in Gaza. Communists, progressives and anti-fascists were also attacked during the processions by police in Turin. “Starvation wages, skyrocketing costs of living and fuel prices. Workers’ lives are being ravaged by the war economy. Let’s not fall for the government’s propaganda or the illusions peddled by the fake opposition. Those who keep this country running can fight for a future free of war and exploitation. Long live May Day!” said Fronte Comunista in a statement.
Portugal
In Portugal, thousands of workers and students attended the mass rallies and festivities of May Day, in the context of the general strike declared by the General Confederation of Portuguese Workers, to come into effect on June 3rd. “Today, workers from all sectors across the country took to the streets to mark May 1st as a day of struggle against the labour reform package, against the rising cost of living, and in support of higher wages and pensions. The fighting spirit and strength of this day of struggle inspire confidence in the prospect of a better life and in the defeat of the labor package, starting with participation in the general strike on June 3!” said the Communist Party of Portugal (PCP) in a statement.
Spain
Tens of thousands of workers, students and communists took to the streets during 1st of May to protest against worsening living conditions, the militarization of the continent, U.S. imperialist and Israeli Zionist military aggressions and crimes against the Palestinian people and Iran, and the blockade against Cuba. “This May Day, let us move forward in building a workers’ opposition to war and capital. It is time for action, it is the working classes’ moment.” said the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Workers of Spain (PCTE).
Germany
As part of May Day celebrations in Germany, demonstrations and marches were held in various cities across the country.
According to a statement by the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB), 366,710 people participated in 413 demonstrations and marches held nationwide under the slogan “Our jobs first, your profits second.”
In the capital Berlin, thousands of people marched from Strausberger Square to Neptunbrunnen Square in front of the Berlin City Hall during a march organized by the unions.
Palestine supporters also took part in the march, carrying a banner reading “No weapons for genocide.”
While police stated that approximately 7,000 people participated in the march, organizers claimed the number was 12,000.
DGB President Yasmin Fahimi, who participated in the demonstration held in Nuremberg, stated in her speech there that the unions would oppose regulations that would lead to cuts in statutory pension rights and planned cuts to health insurance.
Fahimi called for the introduction of a wealth tax, fair inheritance tax, and an increase in the income tax rate for high earners, saying, “In this country, it is workers who truly need tax cuts.”
The DGB President noted that workers should be seen not as the culprits of the economic crisis but as part of the solution.
The German Communist Party (DKP) participated in the mass rallies under the slogan “Ready to strike, not ready for war!”
Austria
Thousands marched across Vienna and other major towns for the 1st of May. The Party of Labour of Austria (PdA) and Jugendfront participated in the mass rallies with its slogan “No more cents and no more people for their wars!” Solidarity with Palestine, Cuba and Iran was a major cause embraced by the workers, students, communists, progressives and anti-fascists who participated in the protests, with slogans of solidarity with Gaza and Cuba being heard.
Russia
Many tens of thousands of Russian workers, students, laborers, progressives and communists celebrated the 1st of May with parades, demonstrations, rallies, concerts and marathons. In Moscow, the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (KPRF) held a mass rally at the foot of the monument to Karl Marx. 