Statement by Jerónimo de Sousa, General Secretary

On the meeting between PCP and PS

On the meeting between PCP and PS

The election results were translated in a parliamentary framework with a correlation of forces similar to the previous four-year period, despite changes in electoral expression between the political forces represented in Parliament.

The present institutional correlation of forces does correspond, however, to a distinct political context from that of 2015.

Four years ago, given the opposition of the then President, the issue was creating the minimal and sufficient conditions to interrupt the then ongoing policy of increasing exploitation and impoverishment. It was necessary that the PSD, then the Party with the most votes, not be appointed to form a government, for which it lacked conditions, as was proven.

Even in those circumstances, PS could have been appointed to form government in constitutional grounds, in conditions similar to those occurring presently.

The insistence by the then President to form a PSD/CDS government led to the process between October 7th and November 10th to make the formation of a PS government possible, which now ceases functions.

The framework of pressures and demands by the then President led PS to insist upon the need to formalize a minimal basis of understanding to overcome the presidential resistance.

This is not the framework today.

Foremost, as can be verified, the process of nomination to form a government occurred naturally.

There are no obstacles to Government assuming office, nor were any problems of stability raised, beyond those the Government’s political action must ensure.

This was the case for decades with most minority governments, including that which now leaves office.

The stability of any government always depends upon the correspondence between the policies it executes and the aspirations and expectations of workers and people. The same will occur with the Government that will now assume office, given the Program it will present and the policy it will pursue.

PCP has its own Program and project, a patriotic and left wing policy that constitutes the objective and solution to guarantee economic development, social progress and national sovereignty.

As in 2015, PS is familiar with our Program and project, our proposals for that patriotic and left wing policy, and knows that the strength the Portuguese have given us will always serve to build solutions towards that alternative policy, and fight against choices that oppose it or make it harder to achieve.

During the last four years, with the decisive intervention of PCP, a path was opened for the defence, restitution and achievement of rights that some thought impossible.

We value all that was achieved, a heritage towards which we contributed, even in circumstances where we identified limitations and insufficiencies given the need for a full response to the country’s structural problems, which demands an alternative policy.

The patriotic and left wing alternative policy has as its main pillars: freeing the Country from submission to the Euro and the impositions of the European Union and renegotiating the public debt; valuing work and workers, their rights, wages, and pensions; the defence and promotion of national production and productive sectors; the guarantee of public control over the banks and the basic and strategic sectors of the economy and supporting the micro, small and medium companies and cooperative sector; guaranteeing a public administration and services at the service of the people and Country; a policy of tax justice; the defence of the democratic regime and fulfilment of the Portuguese Constitution, with a justice system accessible to all and fighting corruption.

These pillars of the alternative policy constitute not only lines of response to the Country’s deep problems, but also elements of the specific commitments PCP assumed with the workers and people.

Based on these commitments, its Program and Project, PCP will develop its action, initiative and proposal, and evaluate the options and objectives that PS and its government may come to adopt.

We reaffirm our determination to achieve solutions for which we fight in several indispensable domains, and that have immediate expression in, among other measures: a general rise in wages and the National Minimum Wage to 850 euros; fighting precariousness and deregulation of the work schedule; repealing the grave labour legislation norms; increasing pensions and guaranteeing social benefits; free day-care until 3 years of age; right to housing; a reinforced and qualified National Health Service; public services capable of fulfilling needs; investment in public transportation; valuing the Public School; 1% of the State Budget for culture; a fair tax policy; a dignified public administration; expanding social benefits; guaranteeing the protection of nature, the environment and the ecological equilibrium.

PCP will assume the initiative, availability, determination and intervention for the Country and people to advance, to pave the way towards an alternative policy free from the constraints that limit and hinder the response to the national problems and popular aspirations.

It is decisive to know PS’s choices and its degree of response to that alternative policy in order to achieve the advances that workers and people desire.

PCP will maintain its initiative and intervention, as in the previous years, and with full political independence, based on its commitments with the workers and people, will decide its position regarding the choices, budgetary tools and legislation PS will present.

The path of advancement and adoption of measures that correspond to the rights and aspirations of workers and people will always count on the decisive intervention of PCP. Likewise, any and all measures that are contrary to their interests will have the firm opposition of PCP.

PCP will not participate and will fight against artificial manoeuvres of destabilization inserted in a revanchist dynamic by reactionary sectors and forces.

PCP will also not contribute to illusory frameworks of convergence, disconnected from specific content, and that based on some measures might mask structural choices that limit or even impede the answer demanded by the Country’s needs.

The limitations resulting from PS’s choices are well known, as well as their negative consequences on public investment, public services, and production, with consequences for the general framework of development and the conditions to face negative external conditions.

PCP considers other options indispensable to decidedly create conditions for a full answer to the Country’s problems.

With PCP’s recognised seriousness, responsibility and rigour, we will intervene in the near future in the development of the political process, based on the first and foremost commitment we assumed with workers, people and Country.

  • Regime Democrático e Assuntos Constitucionais
  • Central