TheInternational Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties (IMCWP), also known asSolidnet, is an annual conference attended bycommunist andworkers' parties from several countries. It originated in 1998 when theCommunist Party of Greece (KKE) invited communist and workers' parties to participate in an annual conference whereparties could gather to share their experiences and issue a joint declaration.[1] The most recent and 23rd meeting of the IMCWP was held in October 2023 in İzmir and was hosted by theCommunist Party of Turkey (TKP).[2] The 24th meeting was scheduled to be held inLebanon, hosted by theLebanese Communist Party (LCP) between 25–27 October 2024,[3] but was postponed due to theIsraeli invasion of Lebanon.[4]
The Working Group (WG) of International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties (IMCWP) is composed of Communist Parties throughout the world. The task of the working group is to prepare and organize the International Meetings of Communist and Workers' Parties (IMCWPs).[5][6]
The meetings are held annually, with participants from all around the globe. Additionally, there are occasionally extraordinary meetings such as the meeting inDamascus in September 2009 on "Solidarity with the heroic struggle of the Palestinian people and the other people in Middle East".[7] In December 2009, the communist and workers' parties agreed to the creation of theInternational Communist Review, which is published annually in English and Spanish and has a website.[8]
The 9th meeting was held inMinsk, Belarus, from 3 to 5 November 2007 and was hosted by theCommunist Party of Belarus (KPB). It was attended by 154 representatives of 72 communist and workers' parties, representing 59 countries.[29]
The 10th meeting was held inSão Paulo, Brazil, from 21 to 23 November 2008 and was hosted by theCommunist Party of Brazil (PCdoB). It was attended by delegations of 65 communist and workers' parties from 55 countries.[30]
The 13th meeting was held inAthens, Greece, from 9 to 11 December 2011 and was hosted by theCommunist Party of Greece (KKE). Under the motto "Socialism is the future!", it was attended by 80 parties, while additional eight parties sent a message.
Countries with parties that participated in the 13th IMCWP (2011) appear in red on this map.
The 16th International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties took place from 13 to 15 November 2014 inGuayaquil, Ecuador. It was attended by 85 delegates representing 53 parties from 44 countries.[33]
The 19th International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties, with the theme "The 100th Anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution:the ideals of the Communist Movement, revitalizing the struggle against imperialistic wars, for peace, socialism", took place inSt. Petersburg, Russia, from 2 to 3 November 2017 and inMoscow, Russia, from 5 to 7 November 2017.[36]
The 20th International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties, with the theme "The contemporary working class and its alliance. The tasks of its political vanguard – the Communist and Worker's Parties – in the struggle against exploitation and imperialist wars, for the rights of the workers and of the peoples, for peace, for socialism", took place inAthens, Greece, from 23 to 25 November 2018.[37]
The 21st International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties, with the theme "100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist International. The fight for peace and socialism continues", took place in İzmir, Turkey, from 18 to 20 October 2019, and was hosted by theCommunist Party of Turkey and theCommunist Party of Greece.[42]
Due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, delegates to the International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties did not meet in 2020. However, avirtual meeting was held overZoom on 10 and 11 December 2021.[11]
Participants of the Extraordinary TeleConference of the International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties, 2021
The 22nd meeting of the Communist and Workers' Parties was held from 27 to 29 October 2022, inHavana, Cuba with theCommunist Party of Cuba as hosting party. The themes for the meeting where "Solidarity with Cuba and all the struggling peoples. United we are stronger in the anti-imperialist struggle, together with social and popular movements, in the face of capitalism and its policies, the threat of fascism and war; in defense of peace, the environment, workers' rights, solidarity and socialism."[43] The final declaration of the meeting includes; denouncing "the strengthening and expansion ofNATO", "the aggravation of tensions and military conflicts, such as the one inUkraine" and "the resurgence of fascism in various parts of the world" and calling for unity to combat the "reemergence of anti-communist, reactionary, ultra-nationalist and fascist forces in various parts of the world".[44] Additionally, the meeting called for mobilization of support in favor of thePolisario Front, promoting international solidarity with theBolivarian Republic of Venezuela, and support forPuerto Rican independence. Members in attendance included:[43]
The 23rd meeting of the Communist and Workers' Parties was held from 20 to 22 October 2023, inİzmir, Turkey with theCommunist Party of Turkey as hosting party. Members in attendance included:[45]
^International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties (@id_communism). "📌 The 24th International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties (#IMCWP), which was scheduled to take place in #Beirut on 24–27 October, has been postponed until further notice due to the situation in #Lebanon."X (formerly Twitter), 30 Sept. 2023, https://twitter.com/id_communism/status/1840740092454785441.
