The lists supported by the communists came second in the student elections

May 20, 2016

For the third consecutive year, students nationwide placed Panspoudastiki Kinisi Synergasias (PKS, the list supported by KNE) in second position in the elections held last Wednesday, May 18, in the student unions of the universities and technological institutes (TEI).

Specifically, PKS, won 13,500 votes nationwide, 20.46% in the universities and 23% in the technological institutes (TEI).It won first place in 41 student unions in the universities and TEI, 26 of them with an absolute majority. These elements of yesterday's elections demonstrate that there are conditions for steps to be taken to revive and militantly strengthen a number of student unions, to create a bloc of unions that will reinforce the rally of the Students' Front of Struggle (MAS), which will empower the necessary response that the students must provide together with the people to the ongoing offensive of the government-EU-capital against their rights.

The other forces that participated in the elections remained at the same percentages with minor changes. DAP (list of the conservative ND party) received 30.27% in the universities and 25.07% in the TEI, in a number of student unions DAP requested for the nationwide percentage to be recorded separately due to internal problems in the ND party (9.22% in the universities, 19.99% in the TEI). PASP (the list of the social-democratic PASOK party) received 10.76% in the universities and 20.50% in the TEI, remaining in third place, after years of falling sharply.

The results for the forces of EAAK (the list supported by Antarsya) can only be considered to be disappointing, 8.46% in the universities and 1.05% in the TEI, while in many student unions it participated independently and in others as a united list with AREN(the former list of the SYRIZA government, which now is part of social-democratic Popular Unity) receiving 7.43% in the universities and 0.91% in the TEI. Despite all these "marriages" and manifestations, these formations together received the same percentage that EAAK had last year.

There was a clear message of condemnation for the SYRIZA government. The new governmental list, which participated this year in the elections under the title "Bloco", was not able achieve 1% (550 votes nationwide).

In addition, forces of the so-called anti-authoritarian current that acted as a para-state mechanism against the election process, stopped the election procedures in a small number of departments.

In his statement, the Secretary of the CC of KNE, Nikos Ambatielos, stressed amongst other things:

"The thousands of young men and women that supported PKS and participated in its lists constitute an important force that must and will be utilized in the daily struggles, for the militant regroupment of the student movement, the revival of the student unions."

20.05.2016