The Greek Communist Youth «Rigas Feraios» ( Greek: Ελληνική Κομμουνιστική Νεολαία «Ρήγας Φεραίος», abbreviated EKON Rigas Feraios, ΕΚΟΝ Ρήγας Φεραίος) was a communist youth organization in Greece. The organization was baptized after Rigas Feraios, a national hero from the Greek War of Independence. [1] EKON Rigas Feraios was the youth wing of the Communist Party of Greece (Interior) and formed the backbone of the party. [2] Rather than being merely a front of the mother party, the Rigas Feraios youth organization exercised significant influence over the party. [2] [3] At its peak, EKON Rigas Feraios had some 15,000-17,000 members. [3]
The Rigas Feraios youth organization was established in 1967, shortly after the beginning of the Regime of the Colonels. [1] It was the first illegal youth organization to emerge after the coup. [4] The organization succeeded the now defunct Lambrakis Democratic Youth (DNL), the founders of Rigas Feraios had belonged to DNL. [4] [5] Rigas Feraios members were active in organizing resistance to the new regime, distributing leaflets and painting anti-junta graffiti around the country. [5] By September 18, 1968 many Rigas Feraios organizers had been arrested by the junta. [5] On October 29, 1968 the Rigas Feraios leadership was put on trial. The defendants were sentenced to jail, with sentences ranging from 5 to 21 years. [5] A failed attempt to initiate low-scale armed struggle was launched in , with the formation of the 'Aris-Rigas Feraios' armed group. [5]
The Rigas Feraios organization aligned with the New Left, although influenced by Eurocommunism. [5] As the Communist Party of Greece split in 1968, Rigas Feraios became increasingly tied to the Communist Party of Greece (Interior). [5] Rigas Feraios, which took a critical stance of the Soviet Union, would now compete with the pro-Soviet Communist Youth of Greece (KNE) over the influence of the leftwing youth movement in the country. [6] By 1972 Rigas Feraios was the largest youth organization, although KNE eventually outgrew it. [5] EKON Rigas Feraios had a key role in organizing the November 1973 Athens Polytechnic uprising against the military junta. [1] The student wing of EKON Rigas Feraios was known as 'Democratic Struggle-Democratic Unity' (DA-DE). [6] In 1974 DA-DE won 14.6% of the national student vote, in 1975 16.42%, in 1976 17.52%, in 1977 20.94% and in 1978 in 16.7%. [6]
During the 1970s EKON Rigas Feraios underwent period of internal strife, which ended up in a formal split in 1978 as the minority wing formed the B Panelladiki. [6] The influence of EKON Rigas Feraios declined towards the end of the 1970s. [6] In 1979, DA-DE won 7.5% of the national student vote. In 1980 it obtained 8.9% and in 1981 10.1%. [6]
The Greek Communist Youth «Rigas Feraios» ( Greek: Ελληνική Κομμουνιστική Νεολαία «Ρήγας Φεραίος», abbreviated EKON Rigas Feraios, ΕΚΟΝ Ρήγας Φεραίος) was a communist youth organization in Greece. The organization was baptized after Rigas Feraios, a national hero from the Greek War of Independence. [1] EKON Rigas Feraios was the youth wing of the Communist Party of Greece (Interior) and formed the backbone of the party. [2] Rather than being merely a front of the mother party, the Rigas Feraios youth organization exercised significant influence over the party. [2] [3] At its peak, EKON Rigas Feraios had some 15,000-17,000 members. [3]
The Rigas Feraios youth organization was established in 1967, shortly after the beginning of the Regime of the Colonels. [1] It was the first illegal youth organization to emerge after the coup. [4] The organization succeeded the now defunct Lambrakis Democratic Youth (DNL), the founders of Rigas Feraios had belonged to DNL. [4] [5] Rigas Feraios members were active in organizing resistance to the new regime, distributing leaflets and painting anti-junta graffiti around the country. [5] By September 18, 1968 many Rigas Feraios organizers had been arrested by the junta. [5] On October 29, 1968 the Rigas Feraios leadership was put on trial. The defendants were sentenced to jail, with sentences ranging from 5 to 21 years. [5] A failed attempt to initiate low-scale armed struggle was launched in , with the formation of the 'Aris-Rigas Feraios' armed group. [5]
The Rigas Feraios organization aligned with the New Left, although influenced by Eurocommunism. [5] As the Communist Party of Greece split in 1968, Rigas Feraios became increasingly tied to the Communist Party of Greece (Interior). [5] Rigas Feraios, which took a critical stance of the Soviet Union, would now compete with the pro-Soviet Communist Youth of Greece (KNE) over the influence of the leftwing youth movement in the country. [6] By 1972 Rigas Feraios was the largest youth organization, although KNE eventually outgrew it. [5] EKON Rigas Feraios had a key role in organizing the November 1973 Athens Polytechnic uprising against the military junta. [1] The student wing of EKON Rigas Feraios was known as 'Democratic Struggle-Democratic Unity' (DA-DE). [6] In 1974 DA-DE won 14.6% of the national student vote, in 1975 16.42%, in 1976 17.52%, in 1977 20.94% and in 1978 in 16.7%. [6]
During the 1970s EKON Rigas Feraios underwent period of internal strife, which ended up in a formal split in 1978 as the minority wing formed the B Panelladiki. [6] The influence of EKON Rigas Feraios declined towards the end of the 1970s. [6] In 1979, DA-DE won 7.5% of the national student vote. In 1980 it obtained 8.9% and in 1981 10.1%. [6]