The Communist Youth of Greece (KNE) has welcomed the massive turnout of students, educators, and parents at the protests that took place on Wednesday, October 21, in Athens and across the country. The organization reports tens of thousands of demonstrators and has announced new mobilizations for Friday, October 30. In its official statement, KNE argues that the demonstrations highlighted the problems young people face in education, with core demands including free education, school safety, and the ability for students to complete their studies without being crushed by the rising cost of living. At the same time, KNE strongly criticizes the government, accusing it of attempting to suppress student demands, while drawing parallels between the protests in Greece and similar youth movements across other European countries.
KNE: The demands of students and university pupils
In its statement, KNE describes the protests as a direct response to the hardships faced by young people and their families, arguing that the rising cost of studying and living is placing ever-greater pressure on Greek youth. Particular emphasis is placed on the slogan “will we survive or will we study?”, which, according to the organization, is being heard at protests across Europe and captures the dilemma faced by countless young people. KNE also criticizes European education and economic policies, questioning whether they genuinely provide equal opportunities for young people. In the same context, it references the protests in France, arguing that the demands of youth in different countries are rooted in shared social and economic struggles. The organization further accuses the government of attempting to intimidate and obstruct the demonstrations, while asserting that the strong turnout proved that students and university pupils continue to fight for solutions to their problems.
The Gravа school complex and student safety
A central focus of KNE’s statement is the issue of student safety, with the organization specifically referencing the Grava school complex, which it describes as the largest in the country. KNE argues that the problems identified at this facility expose serious gaps in student protection and criticizes the government’s education spending policies. It also draws a direct connection to the Tempi train disaster, contending that the state consistently treats public safety as a matter of financial calculation rather than a fundamental obligation. The organization further challenges the priorities reflected in the national budget, contrasting the underfunding of education and healthcare with spending on military equipment. These are the political positions KNE sets out in its statement, through which it seeks to link the demands of students and university pupils to broader social issues.
New call to action: protests on October 30
KNE has designated Friday, October 30, as the next major date for action, calling on students and university pupils to participate in new rallies. The organization connects these demonstrations to an international dockers’ strike, which according to its statement is planned to take place at more than 100 ports worldwide. KNE frames the date as an international day of action for education, labor rights, social rights, and peace, emphasizing its goal of uniting student demands with workers’ struggles. Its statement also highlights the role of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and KNE in organizing the mobilizations and reaffirms the organization’s broader political direction. “From Greece to France, across all of Europe, we are making history!”, the statement reads, calling on young people to continue their collective action.
