Stranica 4 [4]
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Ket OF sZ
- page four 4
The Communist Party is supported by approximately 5% of the
voters. According to the unanimous consent of all observers, it is ‘
losing in quantity, but certainly not in quality of its members,
The recent losses of its quantitative support, especially in the
labor class, is explained by the high standard of living enjoyed by
workers by Belgium, Homes are usually comofrtable, well furnisheds
food is plentyfulg many workers have even their gardens and sufficient
leisure time opportunities, From prisoners of war and displaced
persons, coming to work in Belgium, the word has been given as to
living conditions of the proletariate in Russia, This has made deep
and unfavorable impression among Begian workers, who now support a }
marxist or a left-wing Party, but do not agree with Moscow leadership.
Nae oy On the other hand - somewhat in the same way as in France - communism
has gained strong and enthusiastic support among certain middle-class
ikke elements: half-intellectuals, people with high ambitions but who
have not mceceeded, poor students, look towards the Moscow doctrine as
a way of achieving a carreer or of changing a social order they hate,
These are most fervent, and usually well-trained and wetl-prepared
supporters, Wio are able to carry on a dangerous and very clever
propaganda. They wotk-especially among other middle-class groups
and among the left-wing socialists dissatisfied with their Party.
A great deal of such direct propaganda is carried out during daily
trips in local trains and through other transport organizations,
where contacts are easily established and messages carried on.
The General Secretary of the Party is Edgar Lalmand. It is
usually felt that, although capable, he is not one of the most
influential personalities in the group. The one to be watthed, it "
is felt, is a newspaper man, Demany. He was editor of the communist
"Drapeau Rouge", recently made his "conversion" to socialism and is
now writing the political column of the socialist paper "Le Peuple".
There is speculation as to know what the background and meaning of
that change represents.
As to the collaboration with the socialists, the commnists
show a policy of the “open hand", never refusing a chance of
offering thé possitilities of a Popular Front. In a recent "open letter!
to the General Council of the Socialist Party, Secretary General
Laimand has ance more re-iterated his offer of common action to
his "dear comrades" of the socialist Party. This reflects a clear
Moscow plan for the establishment of large common fronts. Up to now,
the socialist Leader Buset has constantly refused these offers, with
the exception of locally establishing joined electoral lists, in
order to defeat a Christian candidate.
Conclusion
The forth-coming municipal elections in Belgium have the
value of re-discussing the country's political problems and evaluating
certain trends.
The Christian Social Party thus might lose certain votes
in favor of the liberals, the communist certain quantitative forces
in favor of the socialists,
What is the most revealing however is the present communist
tactic: losing the masses, it gains in the middle-classes and workd
in establishing a well-trained elite, capable of undermining Larger
fwonts of common action and to play the role of a well-prepared fifth
column in case of need, y