Statute of the PMLI
(Approved by the Party's Foundation Congress held on the 11th of April,1977 - excerpts)
 
PREMISE
 
I
 
The Italian Marxist-Leninist Party is established on the basis of the Marxist-Leninist Italian Bolshevik Communist Organization, that was founded on 14 December 1969 by a small patrol of authentic Marxist-Leninists, in the fire of the struggle against the Togliatti revisionist clique and fake Marxist-Leninists, according to Marxism-Leninism-Mao Thought, to the historical experience of the Italian and international workers’ movement, thanks to the powerful drive of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, with the precise aim to fight to establish the revolutionary party of the Italian proletariat; a party that is unprecedented in the history of the Italian workers’ movement because of it theoretical foundation, class composition, organizational structure and political line.
Throughout its more than seven years of intense and dynamic life, M-L IBCO led an arduous and tireless struggle for the unity of all the authentic Italian Marxist-Leninists. Practice showed that the organizations claiming to be Marxist-Leninists did not exist in class struggle or were proxies and covers for Togliatti revisionism, and that it was not possible to rely on them in order to build the proletarian party together.
The establishment of the Party could be realized only thanks to the organic strengthen of the M-L IBCO at all levels, to the joint and tireless efforts of its members and leaders, and relying on the encouragement and support of the Italian and international proletariat.
 
II
 
The Party, in order to lead the socialist revolution to victory, must count on the righteousness of its political line and the solidity of its organizations, that must be safeguarded against the attacks from class enemies with all necessary measures. […]
 
CHAPTER I
THE PARTY
 
ARTICLE 1 – The Italian Marxist-Leninist Party is the conscious and organized vanguard of the Italian proletariat, the political party of the working class, that leads the immediate and partial struggles as well as the general and long-term struggles of the entire class and Italy’s broad people’s masses, and carries the socialist revolution on to complete victory.
 
ARTICLE 2 – The Party takes Marxism-Leninism-Mao Thought as the theoretical basis guiding its ideological, political, organizational and practical orientation.
 
ARTICLE 3 – The Party has, develops and carries out an authentically proletarian and revolutionary strategic and tactical line.
The Party’s political line is comprehensively laid down in its Programme, that sets the character, motive forces and aims of the Italian socialist revolution, the main tasks of the working class in the perspective of seizing political power, as well as the goals and aims of the Party.
The Party’s fundamental programme is to lead the proletariat to seize political power, overthrow the bourgeois dictatorship, establish the dictatorship of the proletariat and secure the complete triumph of socialism over capitalism. The ultimate goal of the Party is the realization of communism.
Since classes, class contradictions and class struggle, the struggle between the socialist road and the capitalist road, attempts at restoring capitalism, threats of subversion and aggression by imperialism continue to exist in the historical period of socialism, the Party leads the proletariat and the broad people’s masses in building socialism following the theory of continuing the revolution under the dictatorship of the proletariat.
 
ARTICLE 4 – The Party cares about its class composition, in its ranks can fight only the most advanced, most conscious and bravest elements of the working class and those who firmly and generously fight on the frontline on the positions of the proletariat, who are able of educating, organizing and mobilizing the proletariat and the Italian broad people’s masses against the bourgeoisie and revisionists.
The Party aims at a high quality of its members, attributes the utmost importance to their political, social and moral skills, dedicates every effort to their ideological formation, to the development of their revolutionary temper and to the strengthening of their ability to resolutely defend and carry out the Party line.
Members of the Party must practice Marxism and not revisionism, unite and do not split, be honest and aboveboard and do not intrigue and conspire, they must dare to go against the tide, practice criticism and self-criticism, be modest and prudent, lead a plain and revolutionary life, form one thing with the Party, be with and of the Party in every moment.
 
ARTICLE 5 – The organizational structure of the Party is firmly based on the principle of democratic centralism.
The Party is compact and monolithic, does not tolerate factionalism and splittism, it is fully equipped for class struggle and socialist revolution.
The Party, as Marxism-Leninism-Mao Thought scientifically explains, and as shown by the experience of the international workers’ movement, is built through the struggle, two-line struggle between the proletarian line and the bourgeois line exists in every stage of its growth and development. Even if the Party has a correct line and a Marxist-Leninist leadership, it always risks that the bourgeoisie through infiltration may turn that line upside-down and overthrow that leadership. Party members must be constantly vigilant, firmly thwart and defeat any bourgeois and revisionist attempt to take possession of the Party and make it change its colour.
 
ARTICLE 6 – The Party, as the highest form of organization of the working class, exercises its leadership in all fields […]
 
ARTICLE 7 – The Party firmly adheres to the principles of proletarian internationalism, and considers the overthrow of Italian capitalism the best contribution it can give to the advance and victory of world revolution.
The Party stands side-by-side with all the authentic Marxist-Leninist Parties and Organizations, the proletariat, the oppressed peoples and nations of the entire world, and closely unites with them in the resolute struggle against imperialism, modern revisionism and all the reaction, aims at their complete defeat, at the total elimination of exploitation of man by man, and at the emancipation of the whole mankind.
The Party is animated by the deepest internationalist spirit linking the proletariat and all the authentic Marxist-Leninists throughout the world, consequently and permanently strives for their unity, that can be realized only according to Marxism-Leninism-Mao Thought, proletarian internationalism and the consistent struggle against imperialism.
 
CHAPTER II
CADRES
 
ARTICLE 8 – Cadres of the Party, since they are a decisive factor once the political line has been set, must be authentic Marxist-Leninists.
Quality of leading officials at all levels of the Party guarantees that the Party be strong, firmly anchored on the positions of Marxism-Leninism-Mao Thought, capable of fulfilling all its revolutionary tasks, loyal to the cause of the proletariat and socialist revolution, and that it may never degenerate.
Leading officials of the Party must be particularly vigilant to prevent revisionists, careerists, conspirators and bad elements of all kinds from usurping the leadership of the Party.
Secretaries of regional committees, provincial committees, municipal committees and cells must be full members of the Party.
Candidate members can be appointed to these offices if the body has no full member.
The same applies to local chiefs of the Party.
 
ARTICLE 9 – Cadres must meet the following requirements:
a) deeply know and be able of putting into practice Marxism-Leninism-Mao Thought and the Party political line, be the standard-bearers of the struggle against modern revisionism;
b) be able to educate, organize and lead the Party members and the masses, to unite and work together with them, to hear their opinions, proposals and criticism, and be worth of and achieve their full trust;
c) have given repeated and concrete proofs of being selfless and uncompromising servants of the Italian and international proletariat and broad people’s masses;
d) be able of orienting themselves and deal with problems on their own, remaining unshakeable in front of any difficulties;
e) be willing of constantly raising their political consciousness and transforming their worldview in a proletarian way;
f) practice a Marxist-Leninist style of work, be modest and prudent, avoid individualism, arrogance and haste, shun all indolence and passiveness;
g) be exemplary in class struggle and in applying democratic centralism, use respect and cooperation spirit towards other cadres of the Party, both old and new, put into practice the style of work of learning from one another;
h) be always ready, without taking pride on merits or privileges, to change their role and fighting post if the Party requires it.
 
ARTICLE 10 – Professional revolutionaries are leading officials or members who work full-time for the Party.
According to a plan arranged by the Political Bureau, every year professional revolutionaries must fulfill a period of work at grassroots level, that is as simple cell members, in order to avoid revisionism, dogmatism and bureaucratism, and so that they may always have that worldview which is proper of the proletariat.
 
ARTICLE 11 – Cadres and professional revolutionaries of the Party must be every inch its best members, the concrete examples of Marxist-Leninists, comrades who dedicate themselves to the Party and the cause of proletarian revolution without asking anything for themselves.
 
CHAPTER III
MEMBERS OF THE PARTY
 
ARTICLE 12 – Can be a member of the Party any advanced element of the industrial and rural proletariat, any advanced element of poor peasants and any sincere revolutionary on the positions of the working class, including migrants, who accepts the Programme and Statute of the Party, militates and actively works in one of its organizations, applies the Party directives and regularly pays fees.
Cannot be a member of the Party who exploits others’ labour, who has and follows a religion or a non-Marxist philosophy.
It is the Party that forms Marxist-Leninists. No one is born Marxist-Leninist but become so by militating in the Party.
 
ARTICLE 13 – Every member of the Party has to:
a) study and practice Marxism-Leninism-Mao Thought, spread it among the proletariat and the broad people’s masses;
b) be intransigent on principles and firmly fight against the bourgeois ideology, modern revisionism, dogmatism and all wrong ideas;
c) defend the political line and organizational structure of the Party, grasp and apply the Programme, and observe the Statute of the Party;
d) keep to democratic centralism and observe a strict proletarian discipline, earnestly, seriously and diligently carry out every task entrusted by the Party, and keep in mind that what really matters for a militant is doing the revolution, irrespective of the fighting post assigned by the Party;
e) work in mass organizations, trade unions above all, resolutely defend the interests of the masses, share happiness and grief with them, closely link with them and being able to be their student and teacher, win them to the cause of socialist revolution and communism;
f) carry out the style of work of integrating theory with practice, use a careful revolutionary vigilance, fight against liberalism and firmly grasp the weapon of criticism and self-criticism;
g) think, act and live as a revolutionary, transform their world outlook, raise their political consciousness, be resolute and brave in class struggle, not fear any sacrifice, put the interests of the revolution before personal ones, do not hesitate to give even life to the cause of the proletariat;
h) generously and unconditionally give their economic aid to the Party, put every personal material mean at its disposal if necessary in order to meet the needs of the revolution.
 
ARTICLE 14 – Every member of the Party has the right to:
a) take part at meetings, discussions, decisions and activities of their organization;
b) give their contribution to elaborating and developing the Party political line, even actively collaborating with its press;
c) be heard by the Party higher organizations and leading officials at all levels, and make proposals and suggestions to them;
d) address in secret, for revolutionary vigilance reasons, the Party higher organizations and, if it is the case, even the General Secretary;
e) be called to take leading offices at all levels;
f) criticize any Party militant, leading official or body through proper forms and respecting democratic centralism;
g) be aided by the Party, with all possible means, in case of repression.
 
CHAPTER IV
ADMISSION TO THE PARTY
 
ARTICLE 15 – Admission of the Party is done on individual basis.
The request for admission must be co-signed by two full members of the Party who, in the capacity of candidate-introducers, answer for the seriousness, reliability and revolutionary temper of the candidate.
Acceptance of the request is subject to examination and approval of the cell it addresses, and to ratification of higher organizations.
Approval of the request implies the admission of the candidate to the cell, her or his active participation to organizational life, fulfillment of duties and acquisition of the rights of Party member. During the candidacy period, however, her or his vote is consultative only, and she or he may not take leading posts.
 
ARTICLE 16 – The candidacy period is one year for workers and poor peasants, and two years for all other elements who do not belong to the proletariat.
When the period expires, the cell, before accepting the candidate as a full member of the Party, examines her or his political life and evaluates the qualities she or he showed as well as her or his commitment to class struggle on the ideological and theoretical, political and practical level. The candidacy period may be renewed if the candidate is not considered in possession of all necessary requirements, but when it expires a final decision must be taken.
The appointment as full member and the decisions concerning candidacy must be ratified by higher organizations.
 
ARTICLE 17 – For admission to the Party of those who held leading offices in other parties and organizations, approval is needed by the Regional Committee, the Provincial Committee or the Municipal Committee if they were regional, provincial or municipal leaders respectively; by the Central Committee if they were national leaders.
Leading offices include parliamentarian as well as regional, provincial, municipal and district councilor.
The candidacy period in these cases is three years.
 
CHAPTER V
DISCIPLINARY MEASURES
 
ARTICLE 18 – The Party requires that its militants observe the firmest and most conscious proletarian discipline based on the conscious and responsible obedience and the voluntary choice to adhere to its political and organizational line.
Denunciation of errors and the criticism of deficiencies must have the aim of “learning from past mistakes to avoid future ones, and curing the sickness to save the patient,” it is necessary to know how to distinguish between the two different kinds of contradiction, those among the people and those between us and the enemy. One should not attack violently and rashly comrades who do not hide the sickness, who are willing to cure and correct themselves, and who do not persist in making mistakes. Criticism must be open and aboveboard, it must aim at uniting and not at splitting, all disciplinary measures must be taken only after an in-depth investigation and with a precise motivation.
As to careerists and swindlers, double-face elements, factionalists, unrepentant elements, renegades, traitors and agents of the bourgeoisie and revisionism, it is necessary to resolutely and unhesitatingly expel them from the Party.
 
ARTICLE 19 – When a member violates Party discipline, the organization he belongs to, according to the concrete case, takes the following disciplinary measures against this member:
- warning;
- serious warning;
- suspension from the organization for a period no longer than six months, while remaining at the Party’s disposal;
- demotion from leading posts;
- suspension of the rights of full member for a period no longer than one year;
- removal of Party membership;
- expulsion.
Disciplinary measures are effective immediately, but they must be ratified by higher organizations to become definitive.
 
ARTICLE 20 – Disciplinary measures involving demotion from leading posts, suspension of the rights of full member, removal of Party membership and expulsion from the Party must be adopted with a two-third majority.
 
ARTICLE 21 – The Central Committee in any moment can demote the Secretaries of Regional, Provincial, Municipal Committees and Cells who have failed their duties.
For the same reason, Regional Committees can demote Provincial, Municipal and Cell Secretaries in their region.
The same measure can be taken by Provincial Committees towards Municipal and Cell Secretaries of their province.
Also Municipal Committees have the power to demote Cell Secretaries in their municipality.
These decisions of Regional, Provincial and Municipal Committees must be ratified by the Central Committee.
 
ARTICLE 22 – Every member of the Party who is subject to disciplinary measures can bring her or his case to higher organizations up to the Central Committee.
 
CHAPTER VI
ORGANIZATIONAL PRINCIPLE OF THE PARTY
 
ARTICLE 23 – The organizational principle of the Party is democratic centralism.
All the directives of the Central Committee are binding for all members and organizations of the Party, that must observe the following discipline rules:
1) the individual is subordinate to the organization;
2) the minority is subordinate to the majority;
3) the lower level is subordinate to the higher level;
4) the entire Party is subordinate to the Central Committee.
 
ARTICLE 24 – Leading organizations of the Party at all levels must have direct and periodic contacts with lower organizations, inform them on activities of general interest, pay attention to their political work, hear their opinions, proposals and criticism.
 
ARTICLE 25 – Democratic centralism is the dialectical unity of centralism and democracy, discipline and freedom, that must be carried out by correctly combining collective leadership and individual responsibility, and making all members of the Party aware of the grandiosity of their tasks.
 
CHAPTER VII
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE PARTY
 
CENTRAL LEADING BODIES
 
ARTICLE 26 – The highest leading body of the Party is the National Congress, and, between one congress and another, the Central Committee.
The National Congress of the Party is ordinarily convened every three years by the Central Committee, which sets its regulations and agenda. The convocation can be anticipated or postponed for particular reasons.
Taking part at the National Congress are members of the ongoing Central Committee, delegates elected by Regional, Provincial and Municipal Congresses and local chiefs were corresponding committees are lacking. If their region has no municipal, provincial and regional committee, Cells elect their own delegates to the National Congress. Election of delegates at all levels takes place according to norms set by the Central Committee in the congress rules.
The National Congress of the Party decides the Party political line; possibly modifies the Programme and Statute; debates the report on the work of the Central Committee and all the other items on the agenda; elects the Central Committee and the General Secretary of the Party.
 
ARTICLE 27 – The Central Committee of the Party is convened by the Political Bureau.
The Central Committee is collectively responsible for carrying out the political line decided by the National Congress; elects the Political Bureau and the political director of the central press organ; establishes, according to its needs, standing or temporary working commissions, which are the executive organs of its decisions as well as the decisions of the Political Bureau and the General Secretariat, and appoints their leaders.
On grounds of political and organizational necessities, and in order to form new national cadres of the Party, the General Secretary can be aided by two Vice General Secretaries and other leading members forming the General Secretariat of the PMLI.
The members of the General Secretariat of the PMLI, except for the General Secretary, are elected by the Central Committee among the members of the Political Bureau.
The Central Committee can put the Organization Commission of the Central Committee in charge of ratifying appointments and disciplinary measures, as well as to make appointments for local and grass-roots leading bodies.
The Political Bureau performs functions and powers of the Central Committee between its sessions.
The General Secretariat performs functions and powers of the Political Bureau between its meetings.
The Central Committee, the Political Bureau, the General Secretariat and the Regional, Provincial and Municipal Committees are made up of full members and candidate members, the vote of candidate members is consultative only.
The General Secretary of the Party prepares, chairs and guides sessions and works of the Central Committee, the Political Bureau, the General Secretariat […]; he is the official representative of the Party within the country, abroad and in relations with fraternal parties.
 
LOCAL LEADING BODIES
 
ARTICLE 28 – Local leading bodies of the Party are Regional Committees, Provincial Committees and Municipal Committees. For what concerns their territory, they have the duty to lead the Party, carry out the Party line and have it carried out by lower organizations, to fight against local governments and administrations, to defend the interests and needs of the masses, to take initiatives they deem necessary to build, develop and root the Party.
Regional Committees are first nominated by the Central Committee taking into account the opinions by Provincial Committees, Municipal Committees and Cells of the concerned region. They are then elected by their Regional Congress.
Provincial Committees are first nominated by the Central Committee taking into account the opinions by the Regional Committee, Municipal Committees and Cells of the concerned region. They are then elected by their Provincial Congress.
Municipal Committees are first nominated by the Central Committee taking into account the opinions by the Regional Committee, Provincial Committee and Cells of the concerned municipality. They are then elected by their Municipal Congress.
Regional, Provincial and Municipal Committees are made up of three to nine members, including full and candidate, the vote of candidate members is consultative only. Provisionally they can be made up of two members.
Taking part at Regional, Provincial, Municipal Congresses are members of respective ongoing committees and delegates elected by the immediately lower congress. Cell congresses elect delegates to their municipal congress.
The above-said congresses are held in connection with and before the National Congress according to the norms set by the Central Committee.
Secretaries of Regional, Provincial and Municipal Committees are appointed by the Central Committee after hearing the opinion of concerned committees, higher and lower committees and cells of the concerned territory.
In lack of Regional, Provincial and Municipal Committees the Central Committee can appoint a regional, provincial and municipal chief after hearing the opinion of existing and concerned local leading bodies and cells.
 
PRIMARY ORGANIZATIONS
 
ARTICLE 29 – Primary organizations of the Party are the cells.
The cell is established in factories, workshops, rural enterprises and any other workplace. It can be established in schools, universities and territory as well.
When the same place of work, study and life has more cells, the Municipal Committee, or the Provincial Committee if the latter is lacking, can form a Coordination Committee made up of secretaries of concerned cells.
In particular cases, and in a provisional way, the Cell can be made up of members of the Party of the same province.
The cell is formed by not less than three and no more than seven members. Under special conditions, it can be formed by two members, and, temporarily and in case of “mother-cell” needed to form new militants, by more than seven members. Before a Cell can be formed, there can be an Organization with the same tasks and functions of Cells.
The cell is led by a secretary appointed by the Municipal Committee, or by the Provincial Committee if it is lacking, or by the Regional Committee if the latter is lacking too, or by the Central Committee if that too is lacking, keeping into account the opinion of cell members. The appointment of the cell secretary must be ratified by the Central Committee.
When cell members are at least six, they elect a Cell Committee made up of three members, which ensures the good functioning, the best activity and the most timely political intervention of the cell.
Every cell member must fulfill a precise role in the frame of the general activity of the organization.
 
ARTICLE 30 – The cell has the following tasks:
a) study Marxism-Leninism-Mao Thought, keeping its red flag high among the proletariat and the masses, fight modern revisionism;
b) propagandize, defend and put into practice the general political line of the Party, applying its directives and Programme, spread the Party press in a militant way;
c) observe the Statute, democratic centralism and revolutionary vigilance, give regular information on their activity and on issues concerning the Party to the higher organization;
d) take part actively at class struggle, forge close links with the masses, know their problems, views and aspirations, organize them, mobilize them and exercise a correct, reliable and acknowledged political leadership over them;
e) apply a Marxist-Leninist style of work, integrate theory with practice, make investigations and researches, bravely practice criticism and self-criticism;
f) have an intense and dynamic life, develop active ideological struggle centralizing correct ideas and rejecting wrong ones;
g) admit new members to the Party, prevent class enemies from infiltrating it and securing the purity of its ranks, expelling the altered and taking in the new;
h) educate and form with particular care candidate members, guide all its members in the struggle against the bourgeoisie and its revisionist agents.
 
[…]
 
FOREIGN ORGANIZATIONS OF THE PARTY
 
ARTICLE 32 – Italians living abroad who meet the requirements of Art. 12 of the Statute of the PMLI, may be members of the PMLI.
They can establish Cells as well as central and local leading organs in the cities and countries where they live according to the organizational structure of the Party.
All the foreign organizations of the PMLI, including the Central Committee and the Congress, established in any nation, are subject to the National Congress and the Central Committee in Italy.
 
CHAPTER VIII
PRESS, FLAG AND ANTHEMS OF THE PARTY
 
ARTICLE 33 – The central press organ of the Party is Il Bolscevico.
 
ARTICLE 34 – The flag of the Party is red, with black hammer and sickle in the middle and the black portrait of Mao on the top alongside the pole.
 
ARTICLE 35 – The anthem of the Party are “The Internationale”, “Bandiera rossa” and the Party anthem “Il Sole Rosso”.