The PCP’s secretary-general warned on Monday that women are being “doubly punished” by the current economic and social situation, arguing that their problems should be “solved immediately” and that the wage gap “must end”.
Speaking to journalists at the PCP’s national headquarters, Paulo Raimundo stressed after a meeting with a delegation from the Democratic Movement of Women (MDM) that the current economic and social situation has a “particular impact” on women, who are “doubly penalized”.
“All the problems from a social and economic point of view that the country is facing have a transversal impact, but have a particular impact on women, with a very prominent role in relation to working women, first of all in their wages, in their working conditions, in the double journey they often have to make This is a fundamental elementhe defended.
In this context, Paulo Raimundo considered the idea according to which transversal measures, which have an impact “in the lives of all people”, have a particular impact on women, namely regarding “the general wage increase” as “very topical”. . “We have a situation where the woman earns less than the man, works the same, the same place, the same period, and it’s a problem that must end”defended Paulo Raimundo.
Addressing the MDM delegation, Paulo Raimundo thanked them for bringing a “useful set of information” they had provided to the PCP, allowing the party to “deepen” its knowledge on the subject.
“There is a diagnosis that we share, a set of proposals and ideas that we share. (…) We have no problem with the law, we have a problem with translating the law into everyone’s life, and we associate with the motto [do MDM] of the ‘thousand reasons why women should fight’ and that women’s problems must be solved immediately, one cannot wait”he stressed.
In turn, MDM leader Sandra Benfica believed that the PCP “can be a great help to quality of life and respect for women’s rights” in Portugal. “As a movement, we have come to convey many of the concerns we have regarding the living and working conditions of women, of all women who live, study and work in our country”he stressed.
The MDM leader stressed that “women know what their situation is, but they are not sleeping, they are not adapted to what their situation is”. In this regard, Sandra Benfica stressed that the MDM will organize a demonstration in Porto on March 4 and in Lisbon on March 11, as part of the celebration of International Women’s Day, which is celebrated on March 8.
“The MDM returns to the streets, it has a motto this year that expresses what we think about the women’s problem: we have ‘a thousand reasons to fight’, we have a thousand reasons to defend our rights, because in reality, the Women’s rights cannot always be the ones to be sacrificed, and women’s rights cannot wait.”to maintain.
Sandra Benfica said that during these demonstrations “large sectors of women, in their diversity”, will come together, with the aim of “demanding solutions to the problems” they face in Portuguese society. “Women are currently experiencing the daily deterioration of their living conditions, with complete disregard for their status and the role they have in Portuguese society. (…) There is no development if you do not take into account the work and the contribution that women there is no progress in the country”defended.
When asked if the PCP would join these demonstrations, Paulo Raimundo remained silent and replied that his party “is in this fight every day, which is an everyday fight”. “Of course, from a historical point of view, March 8 is decisive. Therefore, on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, but also on 9 and 10, and on the days that follow”he stressed.
Immigrants “are very welcome” in Portugal
The PCP secretary general also defended that immigrants are “very welcome” in Portugal, stressing that there are sectors of the economy that would not function without their contribution, and took the opportunity to denounce “unfortunate statements” from the right to criticize on this subject.
Paulo Raimundo was asked about the debate that has taken place between right-wing parties over immigration and the government’s goal of integrating 150,000 immigrants into an irregular position.
“I think there is an objective problem: the immigrants who are in our country are very welcome, they work every day – or at least try to do so – and I feel that there are a very large number of sectors in our economy that wouldn’t work without the immigrants who are here. That’s why they’re welcome”replied Paulo Raimundo.
For the communist leader, Portugal wins “with the immigrants here, with their appreciation, with their role and contribution” and “with their rights”. “Everything else, this polemic between right-wing rights, is only intended to feed each other and therefore circumvent the fundamental issue, which is the rights of workers, whether they are immigrants or not, in our country”he underlined.
Paulo Raimundo stressed that the debate on the right is “more tricks arranged from unfortunate statements” – in reference to the positions taken by the PSD leader, Luís Montenegro, and by Lisbon mayor, Carlos Moedas – but that, “From the people’s point of view, it doesn’t change anything.”
When asked how he sees the government’s decision to automatically grant immigrants from the Community of Lusophone Countries (CPLP) a one-year residence permit, Paulo Raimundo stressed that this measure was already “foreseen” and “there was nothing new”.
“It was a measure that was foreseen and I think of course it makes it easier for people. We know those endless queues, these months of sometimes endless waiting that are not justified. That is why this situation is viewed with good eyes”he stressed.
In these statements to journalists, Paulo Raimundo was also questioned about the housing package presented by the government, reiterating that “it ignores the fundamental problems”. “We can say that there is an idea of the medium, long term, but people’s problems are not solved in the medium, long term. The path is important, but it is necessary to attack now.””, he emphasized.
The PCP secretary general stressed that in the housing package, the government left untouched the “law of evictions, the Cristas law”, as well as the “profits, commissions, fees and taxes” of the banks.
“There are things that need to be resolved today: The significance of the rise in interest rates on people’s installment payments every day is not a problem to be resolved in 30, 20, or 15 years. It needs to be resolved today, and it was that the government passed”criticized.
On the day he celebrates 100 days as Secretary General of the PCP, having already traveled to 17 of the 18 districts on the continent, Paulo Raimundo emphasized that during these trips he has had the opportunity to get in touch with ” a very diverse range of sectors”, such as workers, pensioners, small and medium-sized businessmen or farmers.
“We can say that there are 100 days with a lot of information, a lot of contributions, but also reaffirming solutions to solve people’s problems, namely in terms of housing, but also the price of essential goods, in the fundamental issue that is the salary increase”he stressed.
Source: DN
