(Preparatory phase)

General Rules

In accordance with the powers conferred on it by the Constitution of the Portuguese Communist Party and with the aim of contributing to the analysis of the situation and its developments, focused on the priorities of intervention and strengthening of the Party and on the affirmation of its project, the Central Committee convened the National Conference "Taking the initiative, strengthening the Party, responding to the new demands" to be held at the Municipal Pavilion of Alto do Moinho, Corroios, Seixal, on November 12 and 13, 2022.

These rules establish the procedures to be observed by Party organisations and members in the preparation of the National Conference, in the election of delegates and in the debate of documents proposed by the Central Committee for consideration and final decision by the National Conference.

The preparatory work for the National Conference, which began with the convening by the Central Committee in its meeting of June 5 and 6, continues following the meeting of the Central Committee of September 17 and 18, which adopted the present Rules and the Draft Resolution to be submitted to discussion in all the organisations and which will be submitted, with the alterations resulting from the debate, for the appreciation and decision by the National Conference.

The Assemblies for discussion and election of delegates and the meetings of the bodies begin after the publication of the Draft Resolution of the National Conference in the Avante! of September 22 and will end on October 27.

The proposed amendments to the Draft Resolution of the National Conference must be submitted by October 27.

I - Plenary Assemblies

1. The holding of Plenary Assemblies to debate the documents and elect the delegates will be convened by the respective leadership bodies, who will chair the proceedings.
2. The bodies of higher responsibility must take the necessary measures to convene and guarantee the holding of the Plenary Assemblies of the organisations when they become aware that the respective leadership bodies have not done so.
3. Party members from the respective organisations participate in the proceedings and decisions of the Plenary Assemblies.
4. In the case of Party members who belong to more than one organisation, the organisation where they normally pay their membership dues is considered for the purpose of the provisions in article 3.
5. Except as referred to in article 14 of these rules, those responsible for these organisations, who are not part of them, may participate in the proceedings of the Plenary Assemblies without the right to vote. Members of bodies with higher responsibility may also participate in Plenary Assemblies, without the right to vote, when invited to be present and in the cases provided for in article 2 of these rules.
6. Plenary Assemblies that include the election of delegates in their objectives must be convened, in writing, at least 8 days in advance. The notices must obligatorily state the objectives of the meeting.

II - Delegates

7. The National Conference will comprise delegates directly elected by the Plenary Assemblies and by delegates due to inherence of their function.
8. Delegates will be directly elected by the organisations in a proportion of 1 delegate per 70 Party members.
9. The number of delegates to be elected by the regional organisations, in accordance with the stated above, should be distributed taking into account the different organisations that comprise them.
10. Organisations in which fewer than 70 Party militants are registered, but more than 35, may elect 1 delegate in the respective plenary assembly, provided that the proportion of 1 delegate per 70 registered Party militants is not exceeded by more than 10%. within the respective regional organisation as a whole.
11. In the case of organisations in which the number of Party militants is less than 70, the bodies of immediately higher responsibility, in order to ensure that all Party militants have the right to elect and be elected as delegates to the National Conference, may convene Plenary Assemblies grouping different organisations, respecting the proportion of 1 delegate per 70 registered Party members.
12. The bodies that convene the Plenary Assemblies for the election of delegates must table candidates to be elected as delegates. Party members participating in Plenary Assemblies may table candidates for delegates to be elected. The number of effective delegates to be elected must be increased by an equal number of substitute delegates, who, in the order of election, will take the place of the effective delegates who may eventually be unable to participate in the National Conference.
13. The delegates, except in cases where it becomes necessary to group several organisations, or to apply the provisions of article 14 of these rules, must be elected in Plenary Assemblies of the organisations to which they belong. No Party member may vote or be a candidate for delegate (effective or substitute) in more than one Plenary Assembly.
14. Party members have the right to elect and be elected in the Plenary Assemblies of their respective organisations. In the Plenary Assemblies, they may also elect and be elected as Party member delegates who perform direct duties of responsibility in relation to the respective organisation, although they do not belong to it.
15. Participants in Plenary Assemblies convened for the election of delegates who may consider that democracy in the election has not been ensured, in accordance with the rules established in this regulation, may appeal to the body of higher responsibility of the respective organisation, which shall, in time, assess the grounds for complaints and rectify irregularities, if any.

III - Delegates by inherence of their function

16. The members of the Central Committee, the members of the Central Control Commission and the Party members of the JCP National Board are delegates by inherence. Other Party members, not exceeding 2% of the total number of delegates to the National Conference, may also be delegates, when the Central Committee deems it necessary to attribute this quality, taking into account the nature of the party tasks they perform.

IV - First session

17. It is mandatory to present the delegate card and the updated Party card to enter the space reserved for delegates.
18. The National Conference functions with the majority of delegates present.
19. The Chair, which will be responsible for initiating the proceedings of the National Conference, will comprise the General Secretary and members of the executive bodies of the Central Committee.
20. The members of the Central Control Commission take their place in the Presidency at the beginning of the proceedings of the National Conference.
21. Subsequently, the Conference Regulation will be discussed. The remaining proceedings of the National Conference will be carried out according to the norms of the approved Regulation.