Paulo Raimundo, elected unanimously on November 12 at a meeting of the communist Central Committee, arrives today after 100 days as general secretary of the PCP. In a balance sheet drawn up by himself to DN, he believes that “both at party level and in more general contact with the people, things are going well”. About “more than three months with much and diverse action and initiative”, the communist leader quotes that this strategy has enabled you to be “in touch with the problems of the workers and the countryconfirming the party’s proposals.
During this period, Paulo Raimundo traveled to 17 of mainland Portugal’s 18 districts (he just didn’t go to Guarda), in a strategy already established at the end of the National Conference. In the resolution adopted at the meeting (which took place on November 12 and 13), the communists pointed out some lines of action: “The task facing the party is both demanding and structuring”; “it is necessary to broaden, deepen and intensify the work of the masses in all dimensions”; “It is on this connection with the masses, on knowledge of the realities and problems they face and on the capacity to intervene in them that the party’s political, social, ideological and electoral influence depends.”
In the vast majority of public interventions he made, Paulo Raimundo was critical of the absolute majority (which he says leads to the “impoverishment” of the country), warned of the “explosive social situation” to which the government must respond, and appealed to those who “approach and with those who reconnect” with the party to join the fight. In an interview with Lusa – his first since being elected – he stated that some of the renovators who left the party in the early 2000s [Carlos Brito, Domingos Lopes, Cipriano Justo são algumas dessas saídas] “they are greatly missed, because their opinion is valid” to strengthen the PCP. He later clarified his position, stating that he did not intend to open a “neat” debate, but to call for mobilization.
In his first speech as secretary-general, he left a message: “There are people who are drooling and desperate for the end of the PCP. Because the council is here, sit down and wait. It is doomed to grow and spread its influence to expand.” .”
The first months of Paulo Raimundo’s leadership were also marked by several resignations in the government (including that of Pedro Nuno Santos, who resigned on December 29). To this, the Communist General Secretary first stated that the controversies particularly interested the right, which would abuse it to “fake opposition”. Then, in an interview with DN, on January 9, he left a public acknowledgment to Pedro Nuno Santos, considered one of the workers of the device: “He always played this principle of frankness and directness, but also with the clear identification of what separates us … we have, so to speak, the tried and tested experience of the political options of the PS, of which Pedro Nuno Santos is a member, and we have the tried and tested experience of the new phase of national political life, which is currently being asked is how to find an alternative to these ways.”
In three months, the PCP’s general secretary was in 17 of mainland Portugal’s 18 districts, missing only the district of Guarda and the Autonomous Regions.
Also in this interview he opened the door to a relationship with the PS, to form what he said he was “a patriotic and left-wing alternative, based on a set of very clear objectives”. “Why should we [excluir integrar um governo de esquerda]? Our goal is to come to power,” he said.
Despite the openness to a possible “device 2.0″, Paulo Raimundo has been more forceful in the words he addresses to António Costa. On January 30, during the party’s parliamentary days, he warned: “Either there will be a political response from the government to solve the problem of the majority of the people, or we will have to act more sharply. policy”. In this context, the communist leader has also participated in demonstrations (such as on the 11th, along with teachers at the Fenprof protest), something that has served to affirm that the PCP “is a protest party”.
On the war in Ukraine, whose stance was criticized by the party for allegedly being close to Putin’s regime, Paulo Raimundo considered it something “reprehensible” and labeled the war as “an invasion”, something that had not been seen before. has happened. This week there was already criticism of the decision of the President of the Republic to award Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, the Medal of the Order of Freedom.
Looking back, says DN, faces the responsibility of leading the PCP “with great demands, but also with great calm”thanks to the party he has, “of great generosity, devotion and militancy”.
The 100 Day Sentences
“There are people who are drooling and despairing for the end of the PCP. So here’s the advice: sit and wait, because (…) such a party is all it is condemned to do to grow and spread its influence. expand.”
First intervention as general secretary. November 13, 2022
“No, why should we exclude [integrar um governo de esquerda]? Our goal is to conquer power, that’s what we’re here for.”
DN interview, January 9, 2023
“The political situation is of little concern to me. What worries me more is the economic and social situation, because that is the problem we are facing.”
Statements after a visit to the shipyards of Lisnave, Setúbal, January 26, 2023
“Whether it’s about the party or more general contact with the people, things are going well. It’s been more than three months with a lot of action and initiative.”
Balance made to DN at the 100 Days of Leadership, February 18, 2023
Source: DN
