The Central Committee of the PCP, meeting on December 15, 2025, analysed recent developments in the national situation and the mass struggle, the elections for President of the Republic, aspects of the international situation, addressed the intervention and strengthening of the PCP, and defined its priorities for action.

I 

National situation

1. The General Strike of December 11, in the course of the struggle of the workers and the people, has had a profound impact on national life.

Its powerful expression contributes decisively to the rejection of the labour package, the political and social isolation of the Government, the denunciation of the anti-social nature of its policies, and opens up the prospect of defeating its projects and policies by broadening the social front of struggle.

Recent developments in the national situation also highlight a political and institutional framework subordinate to big capital and its interests, in which an intense ideological offensive is being waged, spreading anti-democratic ideas and seeking to make way for a reactionary agenda and the intensification of a policy of exploitation and attack on rights, which worsens each and every one of the problems that mark the lives of the workers and the people, with the denial of the solutions and responses that the Country's situation demands.

2. The recent approval of the State Budget for 2026 expresses, in itself and in decisions associated with it, a clear choice to favour the interests of big capital, by promoting the depreciation and dismantling of public services, and taking advantage of every problem to create new business opportunities for economic groups.

This choice is clearly visible in the social regression that the labour package structurally represents in the strategy of exploitation, in the assault on Social Security and pensions driven by European Union decisions, in the destruction of rights and in the heightening of injustices and inequalities. This option is also present in the attempt to accomplish the criminal privatisation of TAP, in the stimulation of real estate speculation, whether through the provision of resources or tax benefits, as well as in the ongoing onslaught to liquidate the National Health Service and undermine Public Education. It is also present in the broad process of destroying public services and compromising the social functions of the State, which includes the so-called reform of the State, part of the process of its reconfiguration to serve monopolistic interests.

On the political, economic and social level, this offensive is mainly promoted by the PSD/CDS Government and its regressive agenda, supported by a majority that objectively counts on Chega and IL as partners and promoters of this policy in the service of monopoly capital, also benefiting from the complicity of the PS, which not only shares some of the main options of the PSD and CDS, but also contributes to the manoeuvres of concealment and whitewashing of Chega and IL, as proven by the approval of the State Budget for 2026. It should be noted that the PS, while still echoing its role in making viable the Budget, is once again reaching out to the PSD and CDS to bring about the tampering of the electoral law for local government, a long-standing goal of the right and part of the Government's programme.

3. The Central Committee of the PCP, denouncing what the operation surrounding 25th. November represents as a gross rewriting of history and a blatant act of provocation against April, stresses that this operation cannot be seen in isolation from the negative developments in the political and institutional framework, with all that this represents and promotes in terms of a resurgence of reactionary and fascist concepts in national life.

4. The scale of the reactionary and anti-democratic operation and its impact in delaying awareness of the root causes of the problems and the solutions to overcome them is countered by the strength to combat and resist it, a force that asserts itself and imposes itself, intensifying the struggle of the workers and the people, the intervention and reinforcement of the Party, the strengthening of mass organisations and movements, and the convergence of democrats and patriots, factors capable of transforming today's indispensable resistance into progress to defeat this offensive and generate the necessary alternative for the Country.

II 

Elections for President of the Republic

1. The elections for President of the Republic are particularly important in the current political and institutional context. António Filipe's candidacy is the strongest guarantee that the mandate will be exercised guided by the compliance of the Constitution of the Republic, the values of April, and the fight against the anti-social and anti-democratic agenda that is being promoted.

Receiving widespread acceptance and support in a wide range of areas, which contrasts with attempts to discredit him, António Filipe's candidacy for President of the Republic is confirmed as the left-wing candidacy. It is one that affirms work and workers' rights as a central issue; that rejects the Country's submission to economic power; which affirms national sovereignty and independence as a condition for the Country's development, in line with the interests and aspirations of the people; which upholds peace and rejects militarism and war; which continues an immense legacy of struggle for democratic freedoms and rights and against fascism; which holds and promotes the values of April into Portugal's future.

2. Reality is showing that António Filipe's candidacy is necessary and irreplaceable, since it assumes what is important to affirm at the present time, points out what is necessary for the people, mobilises and unites wills around what is fair, and drives the change that the Country needs.

It is a candidacy that clearly identifies with the people, that defends the rights, interests and aspirations of workers, youth and the population, that denounces and combats injustice and inequality, and that does not connive with the interests of big capital.

A vote for António Filipe is a vote that, in the elections and beyond, gives expression to the fight against right-wing politics, the rollback of rights, reactionary and anti-democratic projects, and the demand for a real change and strength in the struggle for a better life, for democracy, rights, development and Peace.

3. This is the moment for all those who still hesitate, for all those who are concerned about the course the Country is following, about the choices made by the ruling classes and about growing injustices, for all those who defend the liberating and emancipatory project of April enshrined in the Constitution, to act for a Portugal with a future, converging and giving strength to António Filipe's candidacy for President of the Republic.

III

Mass struggle

1. The struggle of the workers and the people remains, as it always has been, the decisive factor in resisting, defending and achieving rights, and in achieving an alternative patriotic and left-wing policy for peace and solidarity.

The national situation and the lives of the workers and the people reveal a policy that is sinking the Country and demand mass action and struggle to face and defeat the objectives of increasing exploitation and attacking public services and the rights and guarantees enshrined in the Constitution.

2. The Central Committee of the PCP stresses the significance of the struggles that have taken place since its last meeting and values the actions carried out with the involvement of thousands of workers, which include the nurses' strike on October 1, the Public Administration strike on October 24 and the National March against the Labour Package on November 8.

3. In view of the situation and the offensive against rights and the declaration of war represented by the labour package, the General Strike of December 11 was a huge affirmation of the strength and unity of the workers and a powerful expression of rejection of a labour package at the service of capital, presented by the PSD/CDS Government and supported by Chega and IL.

The General Strike expresses the strength and unity of the workers, who voiced their protest, indignation and confrontation with the model of exploitation and injustice to which they are subjected, with low wages, precariousness, deregulation of working hours, unbearable working conditions and rhythms, and the trampling of their rights. The General Strike is a historic day in the demand for justice, dignity, respect, better wages and rights.

This day has even greater significance when one considers that an entire arsenal of pressure tactics and blackmail, including the abuse of minimum services, was used in an attempt to undermine the right to strike and conceal its effects. The overall failure of this operation, which included the promotion of misinformation, demagoguery and lies, further highlights the importance and significance of the strike.

The General Strike places work and the situation of the workers at the centre of the discussion. It is a strong warning to big business and the Government that it must withdraw not just one or two measures, but the entire labour package.

The General Strike, one of the largest ever, had a high level of participation by workers, many of whom were striking for the first time, and had a significant impact throughout the Country. There was clear participation by workers with permanent and precarious contracts, immigrant workers, and a notable participation by young people and women, with strong representation in various sectors of activity, in industry, services, the private sector and the public sector. Also significant were the hundreds of picket lines and dozens of rallies and demonstrations involving thousands of people.

The government's worn-out and ridiculous attempts to downplay the General Strike, in clear contrast to the evidence of its scale, reflect the impact of the strike itself and lays bare the government's anti-democratic views and escapism from reality.

The Central Committee of the PCP salutes the workers for their participation in the General Strike against the labour package, regression and exploitation, and for demands for higher wages, rights and public services. It salutes the CGTP-IN, the great trade union confederation of Portuguese workers, which took the initiative to move forward with action against the labour package and the General Strike. It salutes the trade union structures and other workers' organisations that took a stand and joined the General Strike, the thousands of trade union leaders, shop stewards and members of Workers' Committees and all the workers who actively participated in the clarification, mobilisation and organisation that were decisive for the success of this great day of struggle.

The General Strike, a vivid affirmation of democratic rights and freedoms, demonstrates that the workers and the people, using all the rights enshrined in the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic, have the strength not only to resist and confront social regression and anti-democratic revanchism, but also to affirm the path of social progress that Portugal needs.

4. Also noteworthy are the struggles of the people for the right to housing, of healthcare service users in defence of the NHS, and of users of public services. Also noteworthy is the struggle of youth, namely the dozens of actions by Secondary and Higher Education students throughout the country and the demonstration on October 28.

Also to be stressed is the intense action and struggle for Peace and solidarity with Palestine, with the demonstration and concert for Peace held on October 18, in Lisbon, as well as the national demonstration on November 29, in Lisbon and Porto.

5. The development of the struggle of the workers and the popular masses, its intensification, development and convergence, is a decisive factor to defeat the labour package, defend rights and improve living conditions, to confront and defeat right-wing policies that serve big capital, and as a fundamental factor of resistance, progress and social change.

IV

International situation

1. Developments in the international situation show that imperialism, particularly US imperialism, seeks to safeguard its dominance and establish its supremacy by all means at its disposal, an ambition that the US's so-called “National Security Strategy” seeks to translate into reality.

Aware of the difficulties and contradictions it faces, as well as the strength of the resistance and struggle of the peoples, the US seeks to create the conditions to impose its intentions, whether internally, or by demanding the subordination of its allies, or by promoting blackmail, interference and aggression to try to hold back or prevent development options by countries that assert their sovereignty and rights, as well as to neutralise, dismantle and hinder their cooperation at the bilateral or multilateral level, in which the People's Republic of China plays an important role.

2. The major European powers in NATO and the European Union continue to exacerbate war propaganda, resorting to all kinds of ploys and stirring up false external threats to justify the arms race, the prolongation of the war in Ukraine and to counteract any possibilities for dialogue that could pave the way for a political solution to the conflict and for peace and collective security in Europe. This action is accompanied by attacks on labour and social rights, democratic freedoms and rights, and the promotion of anti-democratic, reactionary and fascistic ideas, forces and projects.

3. Condemning Israel's failure to comply with the ceasefire agreement and its continued policy of genocide against the Palestinian people, the Central Committee of the PCP warns against manoeuvres that, in violation of the rights and sovereignty of the Palestinian people, aim to continue to delay and prevent the establishment of the State of Palestine, with the 1967 borders and East Jerusalem as its capital, and the right of return of Palestinian refugees, as determined by United Nations resolutions. It is up to the Palestinian people to decide their own path, free from external and neocolonial control.

The Central Committee of the PCP calls for continued solidarity with the Palestinian people's struggle for the materialisation of their national rights.

4. The deployment of powerful US military means in the Caribbean Sea, the provocative actions and threats they pose against Venezuela, Colombia, Mexico, or Cuba constitute a serious threat to peace, security, sovereignty and the rights of their peoples, as well as all the peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Central Committee of the PCP condemns the warmongering actions and threats of military aggression against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela by the US, which, under false pretexts, aim to defeat the Bolivarian process and impose domination and to plunder of this country's vast resources.

Demanding an end to US interference and threats against Latin American and Caribbean States, the Central Committee of the PCP expresses its solidarity with Bolivarian Venezuela and the struggle of the Venezuelan people in defence of their homeland and reiterates its demand for an end to the blockade imposed on Cuba, as well as the coercive measures imposed on Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Brazil and other countries in the region.

5. Condemning the putschist action carried out in Guinea-Bissau, the Central Committee of the PCP expresses its solidarity with the Guinean people's struggle for their rights and calls for immediate respect for democratic freedoms and rights in Guinea-Bissau, an end to persecution, the immediate release of Domingos Simões Pereira, leader of the PAIGC, and other political leaders and activists, and respect for the legitimate will of the Guinean people as expressed in the elections of November 23.

6. The Central Committee of the PCP calls for the continuation and expansion of the struggle for peace and solidarity with the peoples who resist imperialist interference and aggression.

The international situation highlights the nature of capitalism and imperialism’s action, as well as the need for the emancipatory struggle of workers and peoples and the topicality of the communist ideal and project as a perspective for a fairer society and world.

V

Initiative and strengthening of the Party

1. The Central Committee salutes the organisations and members of the Party and the JCP for their response on multiple and demanding fronts.

The 13th JCP Congress, held on November 15 and 16, under the slogan "The new world is in our hands. Organise. Unite. Fight.", for its dimension and participation, its deep connection to the problems and aspirations of the youth, for the firm affirmation of the topicality of the communist ideal and project, was a major moment in the struggle of Portuguese youth, a great demonstration of confidence, unity, combativeness and joy.

The actions promoted by the Party on the occasion of the 5th. Centenary of the birth of Luís de Camões were unique, profound and of great quality, and it is important to continue to promote them.

2. The situation that the Country faces calls for the Party to intervene: the development of the ongoing campaign “Another course for the Country. Reject the labour package, exploitation and injustices"; the promotion of the campaign on the elections for President of the Republic; the Party's anniversary initiatives and the preparation of the 50th. edition of the Avante! Festival; the stimulation of the development of the mass struggle on the problems of the workers and the people in defence of public services, the NHS, Social Security and the right to housing; the celebrations of March 8, International Women's Day, March 24, National Students' Day, and March 28, National Youth Day; the commemoration of the 50th.anniversary of the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic, the demand for the application of the rights enshrined therein and the popular celebrations of 25th. April; the struggle on May Day; the contribution to the strengthening of mass unitary organisations; convergence with democrats and patriots; the struggle for peace and internationalist solidarity.

3. The Party's action, which is essential for the change that the country demands, is inseparable from the continuation of the work to strengthen it, implementing the guidelines of the XXII Congress: development of the general movement to strengthen leadership and structuring, coordinated with the attribution of responsibilities to cadres, as well as their political and ideological training; recruitment of new members and their integration; intensification of intervention among the workers, namely with the promotion and creation of company and workplace cells; strengthening of the Party's propaganda and press dissemination work; adoption of measures to guarantee the Party's financial independence, for a start with a day’s wage campaign and the regular payment of membership dues; holding of Party organisation assemblies.

***

In a time marked by dangers, but also by potential, the PCP reaffirms its longstanding commitment to continue the struggle alongside the workers and the people to defeat right-wing politics, materialise a patriotic and left-wing alternative linked to the values of April, and pave the way for the project of transforming society, for democracy, peace, socialism, and communism.