The Secretary-General of the PCP, Paulo Raimundo, declined to comment on the latest Pitagórica poll results for TVI/CNN, JN, and TSF, which place the Livre party ahead of CDU and BE. However, he expressed strong confidence in the party’s performance in the upcoming legislative elections.
“The electoral decline is a fact, but there are many reasons for it, and it does not seem possible to make a direct transfer of what we lost to this or that party. The question is how we change this reduction in votes. The confidence we bring to this battle is based on facts. Despite the difficulties, we are deeply connected and even more committed to addressing the real issues of life,” said Paulo Raimundo in an interview with CNN Portugal.
The communist leader acknowledged that the 200,000 votes gained by the party in the last elections are “profoundly insufficient” to address “fundamental issues” such as salaries, pensions, children’s rights, housing, and the National Health Service.
“We need more votes and deputies to solve the problems in the lives of Portuguese people. A party connected to the life and aspirations of our people must grow and can only grow,” added the Secretary-General of the PCP.
The early elections were announced by the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, on March 13, two days after Parliament rejected a vote of confidence in the Government, leading to the resignation of the PSD/CDS Government.
This motion was introduced by the Prime Minister on March 5 and justified by the need for “political clarification” following weeks of uncertainty about the personal and financial affairs of Luís Montenegro and the family business Spinumviva. This situation prompted two no-confidence motions against the Government, from Chega and PCP, both rejected, and the announcement by the PS of a forthcoming parliamentary inquiry into the case.
