Speaking at a lunch rally in Funchal, Paulo Raimundo emphasized that the outcome of the elections, both the regional legislative elections in Madeira in March and the national legislative elections in May, where the right won, is “very discouraging,” and highlighted “two major underlying problems” that need addressing.
He pointed out, firstly, “the resignation of the Socialist Party, which is offering its hand, arm, leg, body, and entire head to right-wing politics and the Republic Government,” he criticized. Secondly, he added, it is crucial to confront the “demagogic option of falsehood, illusion, those who claim to represent the people, but when given the opportunity, become the main protagonists of anti-people politics, […] notably Chega.”
Following his speech, in statements to journalists, the PCP secretary-general reiterated that he knows the program of AD (Democratic Alliance, which includes PSD and CDS-PP) and cannot let it “go unnoticed,” as is the intention of the PS, thereby justifying the already announced submission of a motion of rejection.
In his view, the PS, by deciding to enable the Government’s Program under the pretense of “so-called stability,” becomes an “accomplice” of a “wrong policy” and “aligned itself with the forces of regression.”
“It will fall behind, because the alternative will assert itself, it will pave the way, and the PS must decide: either it joins the regression or comes to the alternative. So far, it has decided to go for regression,” he reinforced.
During his speech at lunch, in front of about two hundred participants, the leader acknowledged that the party would be “better institutionally” if it had been elected in Madeira in the regional elections of March 23, and that the results of the May 18 legislative elections were also unsatisfactory, stressing, however, that this “does not undermine the confidence” nor “diminish the justification” of the communists’ struggle.
Paulo Raimundo emphasized that the PCP and the CDU (a coalition that includes communists and “Os Verdes”) have “all the right on their side” – they are the ones who “confront the minority dictatorship,” fight injustices, and “want to improve the lives of the majority.”
“And this is where we stand, and this is where we will continue to fight the battle, alongside the workers, alongside the populations, learning with the distinctiveness and the actions of youth,” he asserted.
The communist leader highlighted that the CDU is ready, in Madeira, to continue “taking the initiative with the populations” and to denounce the Regional Budget, which he described as “a disgrace.”
Paulo Raimundo also assured that the coalition will do everything “to turn the local elections into a major popular contact action,” admitting that the vote is demanding “and a great challenge.”
He made an appeal: “Anyone who wants to work honestly and competently is welcome to the Democratic Unitary Coalition, regardless of the vote they cast 15 days, a month, or three years ago.”
