8th National Congress of the FdCA

Fano, 31st October - 1st November 2010
at the FdCA premises, Piazza Capuana 4, Fano

The Federazione dei Comunisti Anarchici held its 8th National Congress on 31st October and 1st November 2010 at the FdCA premises in Piazza Capuana, Fano. After a year of preparation and debate, the organization's highest decision-making body, composed of all members, met to approve documents of political strategy and general tactics on areas of struggle including energy and the environment, neighbourhood movements and struggles, labour struggles, and the economic situation both in Italy and internationally.

On the first day of the Congress, there were members and observer from the regions of Lombardy, Lazio, Liguria, Emilia Romagna, Veneto, Friuli and the Marches. Participants were presented with bags featuring the wildcat logo, containing the various documents for the Congress.

Comrade Zanella of San Vito al Tagliamento was acclaimed as chair for the duration of the proceedings, flanked by the outgoing National Secretariat. There followed a reading of the various greeting messages that were received from our sister organizations throughout the world: the Workers Solidarity Alliance (USA/Canada), Common Cause (Ontario, Canada), Estrategia Libertaria (Chile), the Unión Socialista Libertaria (Peru), the Union Communiste Libertaire (Quebec, Canada), the Organisation Socialiste Libertaire (Switzerland) and from several individuals, amongst whom our Israeli comrade Ilan Shalif (greetings were also received post-Congress from UK organization Liberty & Solidarity). The proceedings were extremely orderly and debate over the weekend was of exceptional quality and depth.

The first morning of the Congress opened with a report of the outgoing National Secretariat, read by comrade Romito (Pesaro). There followed the presentation of the document containing analysis of the current economic phase, read by comrade Caraffi (Reggio Emilia), which was amply debated. Next came the document on common goods, prepared and read by comrade Aucone (Rome), again followed by debate. Lastly came the turn of the document on trade union work, read by comrade Lograno (Pesaro) and the document on the movements and neighbourhood activity, read by comrade Sodini (Genoa), with each followed by debate.

The works came to a halt for a wonderful lunch, featuring Lebanese specialities.

In the afternoon, the Congress recommenced with a presentation of a document on the crisis of democracy in Italy, prepared by the National Secretariat. Following debate and several amendments, the document was approved. There then followed short presentations, amendment and voting on the first three documents (the economic phase, common goods and trade union work). It was decided a commission would be established to continue work on the document on "the movements and neighbourhood activity"; this commission is to present its findings by 15th November. Finally, a commission was elected to draw up the Final Motion of the 8th Congress, to be debated and voted on the following day.

The day came to a close at 8.00pm, when all the participants moved to a nearby restaurant for dinner.

The second day of the Congress - Monday 1 November - began at 9.00am with participants from Lombardy, Lazio, Liguria, Emilia Romagna, Friuli and the Marches regions. First up was the presentation of the final motion, which was duly approved following several amendments. A motion on the current state of universities was then presented and approved. Then the National Secretariat presented a brief report on the current state of the Federation and on its future tasks.

A mandate was given to the Council of Delegates to prepare an Organizational Conference in order to deal with any Congress matters remaining to be dealt with and to discuss upcoming activities of the organization. The FdCA's Internal Regulations were also amended and approved.

Congress then voted for the new Council of Delegates, made up of 7 delegates.

The Congress came to a close at 1.00pm, with the singing of the Internationale, followed by a Lebanese lunch.

On the same afternoon, as traditionally, the new Council of Delegates met to nominate the new National Secretariat and several other new positions, external to the Council: the Administrator of the Centro di Documentazione "Franco Salomone", the Treasurer, the Head of the FdCA Studies Office and the International Secretary. Also voted were the components of the Labour Commission, the Bioethics, Secularism & Gender Commission and the Working Group on Energy & the Environment.

FdCA International Relations Office

24 November 2010