January 14, 1956
NIKOS ZACHARIADIS: In the light of talks between opposition parties in a «popular front,» there was an extremely enlightening article by Nikos Zachariadis, the leader of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), in the December 17 issue of the newspaper Militant, published behind the Iron Curtain. Zachariadis wrote: «If the opposition, the parties who took a stand in favor (of the electoral system), make the electoral system the sole issue to be put before the people in the next elections, then it is certain they will find the great majority of the electorate in agreement with them. One thing needs to be made clear – that the parties, that is those who support a simple proportional electoral system, should make an official, open statement that if they win a majority, they will dissolve Parliament in order to implement the people’s mandate. That is, they will hold, within the constitutional limits, fresh elections using the simple proportional system. Then the parties or alliances thereof will have the ability to set out their electoral platforms to the people, to put forth their views on issues of burning national interest and ask for the people’s votes…»
