Portugal Elections 2024: Poor performance for the Communist Party, while the far-right rises

Bad news come from Portugal, following March 10 parliamentary elections. The Unitary Democratic Coalition, comprised of the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) and the Greens, received 3,30% (approximately 203,000 votes), which marks a regression in relation to the 2022 results (4,39% and 236,600 votes).

Unfortunately, it seems that, among others, the Portuguese Communist Party pays the price for its political support – also known as Geringonça - towards the social democratic governments of Antonio Costa in 2015-2019 which cultivated empty promises to the working class but ultimately led to disappointment. 

Portuguese Communist Party: On the political situation arising from the resignation of Prime Minister Costa

On Thursday 9/11, the President of Portugal Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa announced that snap parliamentary elections will be held on March 10, 2024, following the resignation of social democrat Prime Minister Antonio Costa, due to corruption allegations. 

In a statement about the situation on November 7, the General Secretary of the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP), Paulo Raimundo, stressed out:

Portuguese Communist Party elects Paulo Raimundo as new General Secretary

Paulo Raimundo, PCP new General Secretary.

On November 12, the Central Committee of the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) elected Paulo Raimundo as the party's new General Secretary. 

"In today’s meeting, the Central Committee of the Portuguese Communist Party elected Paulo Raimundo as General Secretary of the PCP. The proposal from the executive bodies was unanimously adopted. Paulo Raimundo chose not to vote in his election", PCP spokeswoman Margarida Botelho said in a statement. 

Raimundo, 46, replaces Jerónimo de Sousa after 18 years in office and becomes the seventh secretary general of the PCP since the party's foundation in 1921. 

Portugal: Thousands attended the Communist Party's "Avante! Festival"

For another year, the annual festival of the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP), known as "Avante! Festival" (Festa do Avante) became an attraction for thousands of people who gathered at Quinta da Atalaia in Seixal in order to attend the numerous cultural and political events included in the program,

This year's festivities, which took place on 2,3 and 4 September, also included a symphonic concert dedicated to the 100th birth anniversary of the great Portuguese writer José Saramago.

Portuguese Communist Party slams anti-democratic remarks by Ukrainian associations

In what seems to be a blatant intervention in the internal affairs of Portugal, the president of an association of Ukrainian refugees (Refugiados Ucranianos) proceeded to unacceptable remarks against the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP).

Speaking during an event in Lisbon earlier this month, Maksym Tarkivskyy targeted the PCP over its position in the Russia-Ukraine War, saying that he cannot understand how “a democratic country continues to have a Communist Party”!

Portugal: Festa do Avante! 2021 successfully held in Seixal

The Avante! Festival, the annual festival organized by the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP), took place with remarkable success on the 3rd, 4th and 5th of September at Quinta da Atalaia, Seixal, with the participation of thousands of people and more than 40 international representations of communist parties and other progressive forces from 4 continents.

In his speech on September 5th, the General Secretary of the Communist Party Jerónimo de Sousa stated: 

Portuguese Communist Party celebrated 100th anniversary — Full speech by General Secretary Jerónimo de Sousa

The Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) celebrated its 100th anniversary on Saturday with a message of struggle and devotion to the continued fight for freedom, justice and socialism.  

 

Addressing hundreds of Communist Party members and supporters, who were carrying party flags and carnations - the symbol of the 1974 Revolution - General Secretary Jerónimo de Sousa honored the "generations of communists who are an example of selfless devotion to the just cause they embraced".  

Portuguese Communist Party marks its 100th anniversary

The Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) is carrying out a vast programme of initiatives under the motto «1921-2021 - Centenary of the Portuguese Communist Party - Freedom, Democracy, Socialism - The future has a Party».

As part of the celebrations, the PCP will hold a wide range of initiatives from March 1 to 6 all over the country, marking its heroic history of 100 years of struggle and affirming its project for the future.

Portugal Election 2021: Communist Party leader Jerónimo de Sousa comments on the results

Sunday's presidential election in Portugal was marked by a high rates of abstention and a substantial victory of the reactionary forces. Incumbent President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, supported by the Social Democratic Party and the conservative People's Party, was re-elected with a majority of 60.70%, while the candidate of the far-right, nationalist Chega party, André Ventura, came third with 11.90% of the votes. 

The Portuguese Communist Party's candidate, current member of the EU Parliament, João Ferreira collected 4.32 percent of the votes in what can be seen as a rather disappointing result. 

In a statement concerning the result of the presidential elections, the General Secretary of the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) Jerónimo de Sousa pointed out the following: