Today we are here to celebrate a remarkable date. 50 years ago today, the political prisoners who were here in this fort, which fascism turned into a prison, were released.

Here we are presenting the slate of CDU candidates for the European Parliament. Twenty-nine candidates who, together with all of us, with all the activists, all the supporters, all the militants, all the forces that together with the PCP make up the CDU, the Ecologist Party “The Greens”, the Democratic Intervention Association, independents without party affiliation, all those who will join us in the CDU, will continue to span the country, affirm the CDU and valorise its work, its proposals and distinctive project.

The Central Committee of the Portuguese Communist Party, meeting on April 15, 2024, analysed the political situation resulting from the recent legislative elections, addressed the preparation of the elections for the European Parliament and the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of Madeira and deepened the analysis about the country's situation and the responses that are required. The Central Committee of the PCP called the XXII Congress for December 13, 14 and 15, 2024.

We head to the European Parliament's electoral battle aware of the difficulties and dangers that the people and the country face, but also with the determination of those who fight on all fronts for the rights of the people and for national sovereignty and independence, in defence of a Europe of cooperation between sovereign states equal in rights, of social progress and peace. We move ahead with the confidence of those who consider the work carried out towards these aims to be the best argument for voting and reinforcing their struggle.