The Reunionese Communist Party (French: Parti communiste réunionnais, [paʁti kɔmynist ʁeynjɔnɛ], PCR) is a communist political party in the French overseas department of Réunion (in the Indian Ocean).
Contents
History
PCR was founded in 1959, as the French Communist Party (PCF) federation in Reunion became an independent party. In the same year, they decided to include demands for autonomy in their manifesto. The party said that it wanted autonomy but not independence. It has since abandoned its policy of autonomism. Paul Vergès led the party from its foundation until February 1993, when he stepped down and Élie Hoarau was elected general secretary.
During the late 1990s the relations between PCF and PCR became somewhat strained, regarding differences in party lines. Relations were, however, fully restored in 2005, on the occasion of PCF leader Marie-George Buffet's visit to the island; subsequently, the PCR stood on the list of the French Communist Party in the 2004 European Parliament elections, and Vergès became one of three MEPs elected from the PCF list at national level. The main party leaders are Hoarau, Huguette Bello and Pierre Vergès (the son of Paul Vergès).
The press outlet of the party is the daily newspaper Témoignages, founded by Paul Vergès' father, Dr. Raymond Vergès, in 1944. Temoignages has headquarters in Le Port, where the Communist Party usually gets most of their votes.
In 2012, Pour La Réunion was created by Huguette Bello as a splinter party.
Important members
National Secretary
Élie Hoarau
Senators
Paul Vergès (2011–2016)
Gélita Hoarau (wife of Élie Hoarau) (2005–2011, 2016–2017)
Deputies
Huguette Bello (1997)
Mayors
Huguette Bello (Saint-Paul, 2008–2014)
Claude Hoarau (Saint-Louis)
Roland Robert (La Possession)
Yolande Pausé (Sainte-Suzanne)
Éric Fruteau (Saint-André)
Jean-Yves Langenier (Le Port)
Regional Councillors
Paul Vergès
Maya Cesari (stepdaughter of Paul Vergès )
Yasmina Panshbaya
Élie Hoarau
Rahiba Dubois
Catherine Gaud
Aline Hoarau Murin
Béatrice Leperlier
Philippe Jean-Pierre
Departemental Councillors
Maurice Gironcel
Roland Ramakistin
Yvon Virapin
Robert Nativel
Yvon Bello
Éric Fruteau
Monica Govindin
Jean-Yves Langenier
Roland Robert
Pierre Vergès (son of Paul Vergès)