1. We are operating in an international situation in which capitalism reveals its true nature, boosts its violent imperialist action, poses threats and dangers, and this confirms the need for a new path of peace and social progress for Humanity. At the national level, we operate and fight in a context marked by intense class struggle, in an open conflict between those who seek to complete the counter-revolutionary process, in confrontation with the Constitution of the Republic, and the forces that resist it. A conflict that lays bare the irreconcilable contradiction between the interests and domination of the monopoly bourgeoisie and those of the vast majority who oppose it with their struggle: the workers, the youth, the people, who are increasingly subject to exploitation and injustice. It is in this context, predominantly one of resistance but also of initiative, that the Party is called upon to intervene.
We live in times that place heavy demands on workers and peoples. Times marked by a strong ideological offensive, supported by powerful instruments of domination and propaganda, fully coordinated with the promotion of concepts directly or indirectly favourable to the agenda of big capital and reactionary forces, and in which, due to its role, the PCP is a prime target.
Times in which the mass struggle and mass unitary organisations are crucial to resist and advance. Times in which the decisive role of the party of the working class and of all workers, the Portuguese Communist Party, proves to be indispensable. A role that is inseparable from its principles, its action, intervention and connection to the masses, its identification with the aspirations of the workers and people, with democracy, national sovereignty and independence, peace, the values of April and its ideal and the project of revolutionary overcoming of capitalism by socialism.
2. The PCP, which carries out irreplaceable action under difficult conditions, supported by a selfless collective of militants with political, ideological and interventionist courage, confirms its position as an unparalleled force in national political life. Faced with an intense, prolonged and coordinated attack, resisting is essential. As a large organised force, it must act with the strength it has, mobilising and projecting all its capacity for intervention. Identifying shortcomings, it is important to work to overcome them. A stronger Party is both necessary and possible. Aware of the demands and difficulties to be faced, confident in the justice of its project and the cause for which it fights, based on its commitment to workers, youth and people, it is imperative to define the tasks and measures necessary for the Party to fulfil its role in all circumstances, be they favourable or unfavourable.
3. It is in this context that the Party faces the need to implement the guidelines of the XXII Congress. The need to take the initiative on the problems of workers, youth and people, in affirming the break with right-wing politics and for a patriotic and left-wing alternative, in implementing its Programme and project of democracy and socialism. The need for intervention that promotes struggle, organised strength and unitary action with the aim of: developing and intensifying the struggle of the workers and popular masses; strengthening unitary mass organisations and movements; developing links and working with other democrats and patriots. The need to strengthen the Party, a decisive factor for the workers, the people and the country.
4. The Central Committee of the PCP decides to undertake an integrated action to strengthen the Party's organisation and intervention to implement the conclusions of the XXII Congress, under the slogan ‘A stronger PCP. It is necessary! It is possible!’
Strengthening the Party involves several dimensions and requires integrated work. In the current context, in which it is becoming even more clear that the Party and its action depend on its organisation and its own resources, with the initiative of each organisation on the concrete problems of the workers and population and the connection to the popular masses always being a determining factor, the following priorities are particularly important:
– the development at various levels of a broad movement to strengthen leadership and structuring, articulated with attributing responsibilities to cadres and their training;
– the consolidation and expansion of a large group of politically and ideologically prepared cadres, with determination and courage, as a guarantee of resistance, a driving force for organic dynamism, political initiative and mass action, involved in the political and ideological struggle;
– the organisation and intervention of the Party among the workers in companies and workplaces;
– the action among the youth;
– the work of information, propaganda and press.
Inseparable from these priorities, the following also stand out: the recruitment and integration of new members; the handing of the new Party membership card in a contact of involvement, attribution of responsibilities and elevation of militancy; action among specific strata, social sectors and areas; the Avante! Festival; financial independence.
4.1 – The implementation of the general movement to strengthen leadership and structuring, articulated with attributing responsibilities to cadres, in the various elements pointed out by the XXII Congress, which includes: a general assessment of the Party's structuring and consideration of the corresponding decisions and measures in each organisation, in a process that should be systematised by the end of April 2026; the strengthening of leadership bodies, taking into account their characteristics and composition; the creation of more bodies that have effective operating conditions; the structuring of organisations, with more grassroots organisations in operation (company, sector and local), strengthening their connection to the reality in which they operate; the promotion of the initiative of leadership bodies, within the scope of their powers; stimulating collective work, individual initiative and monitoring of implementation; holding assemblies in 2026 for organisations that have not held them since 2022.
4.2 – The general attribution of responsibilities to cadres, with the aim of attributing responsibilities to 1,000 new cadres by the end of 2027, considering comrades who do not have regular responsibilities and who will now have them, with the necessary help and support; conduct a survey of cadres for Party officials, particularly workers, women and youth; promote a political and ideological training plan, in organisations and in the Party School, aimed at cadres and members, particularly new Party members; promote attributing responsibilities and political and ideological training for cadres as organisers, active participants in information and clarification, promoters of political initiative and intervention and of mass struggle, thus responding to the various needs of the Party.
4.3 – The implementation of a Broad Plan of Work to strengthen the Party's intervention and organisation among the working class and workers, in companies and workplaces, defining and developing: measures for the regular functioning of existing cells and the creation of new cells; the expansion of the number of companies with Party members, organised activity and intervention on workers' issues; an increase in the number of members organised from company, workplace and sector structures (based on the recruitment and integration of Party members under the age of 55); the materialisation of the goal of creating 100 new cells; a plan to encourage unionisation and the involvement of Party members in strengthening trade unions and other unitary workers' organisations; the creation and regular functioning of bodies with communists involved in trade unions and other workers' structures.
4.4 – The strengthening of action among the youth by responding to their problems, rights and aspirations, in confront with capitalism, exploitation, injustice, individualism, isolation and fear. The affirmation of the communist project for a new society, of the values of solidarity and peace, promote creativity and social and political participation, challenging the youth to take the future into their own hands. It is necessary to: encourage and support the JCP's own intervention, the structuring of its organisation and its integration into the youth movement, help its cadres, promote their political and ideological training, contributing to the continuity of their intervention; improve the coordination of work between the Party and the JCP; work with the youth, involving the various aspects of the Party's work, including the Avante! Festival; develop the attention of Party organisations to the problems and aspirations of youth, increasing knowledge and defining appropriate proposals and initiatives.
4.5 – The progress in the Party's communication and information work, considered globally and from an integrated perspective, with the strengthening of content production, propaganda structures, presence on the streets, digital networks, agitation and the Party press, instruments for intervening in the ideological struggle. Taking into account attempts to silence the Party and the fact that it increasingly depends on its own organisation and resources, the following are essential: the growing involvement of organisations and the intervention of each member; the evaluation of the Party's own production, resources and necessary cadres (as well as their technical and political training); the coordination of all available resources, ensuring convergence and the best use of content; more agile and regular production of documents and verification of the location of propaganda structures; strengthening the digital dimension, diversifying platforms, improving content, expanding the dissemination network, which is essential to broaden its reach; boosting the role of Avante!, O Militante and editorial activity, in particular by expanding their dissemination.
4.6 – The recruitment of new members and their integration, developing extensive recruitment work organised on the basis of concrete knowledge and lists to be drawn up based on a survey of union leaders and shop stewards and members of workers' committees, of all those who stand out in the struggle and electoral processes, promoting the option of becoming a member of the Portuguese Communist Party, in what it means as a significant and irreplaceable contribution to the struggle, of commitment to the workers and people, and of affirmation of values, ideals and liberating project.
4.7 – The handing of the new Party membership card, based on a wide contact and individual talk to encourage more militancy, updating of data, clarification of the tasks that each one can take on and the body in which they participate, update the membership dues and streamline the regular payment method, and encourage their social and political involvement. Contact that must be carried right away, seeking to achieve the essential in 2026.
4.8 – The work with specific social strata and areas, strengthening Party structures, promoting initiatives and work plans, and fostering the strengthening of organisations and unitary movements in these areas.
4.9 – The promotion of the Avante! Festival, with the affirmation of its unique characteristics and dynamizing it as a major political and cultural initiative unparalleled in our Country, promoting its dissemination, enhancing its capacity for involvement, accountability, attraction and broadening of participation.
4.10 – The work to ensure the Party's financial independence, both in general and in each organisation, with rigorous assessment and adoption of measures regarding: increasing its own revenues and not relying on extraordinary or institutional revenues – without neglecting their importance – with an emphasis on membership dues, increasing their amount and ensuring regular payment (by promoting direct debit), initiatives and fundraising campaigns; compliance with the principle that elected officials should neither be benefited nor harmed and with the criteria relating to polling stations; regular presentation of accounts; financial balance; permanent evaluation of expenses; the Party's assets, rigour in their conservation and management; the promotion and presentation of the Work Centres and their overall assessment in view of the current situation and needs of the Party's work.
5. The strengthening and affirmation of the Party places new demands on the development of the ideological struggle, requires the valorisation of its operating principles, which are the indispensable basis of its strength and capacity for intervention, and implies measures that promote, ensure and defend its activity and its irreplaceable role in the most diverse situations.
The measures decided upon in the context of strengthening the Party's organisation and intervention involve programming and planning and require regular evaluation and monitoring of implementation.
6. Strengthening the Party's organisation, intervention and influence is a decisive factor at various levels to defend the interests of the workers and people, to face reactionary forces and projects, for a break with right-wing politics, the implementation of a patriotic and left-wing alternative, for an advanced democracy with the values of April in Portugal's future, for socialism and communism.