For months, the country has been facing an escalation in the prices of fuel and other products. An escalation that, with sanctions under the pretext of war, now knows even more brutal increases for the benefit of those who take advantage of them. In addition to the unjustifiable increases in fuel prices, a few days ago we were faced with further increases in electricity, gas and food products.

The ambition of the PS [Socialist Party] for an absolute majority, which led to the call for early elections, has been achieved. The manoeuvre set in motion to guarantee the interests and privileges of the ruling classes was accomplished with one of the possible solutions on which the centres of big capital and the promoters of right-wing policies were seeking What these interests gained, the country has lost in termos of the prospect of solving the problems confronting it. The policy needed to provide pressing answers for the lives of the workers and people is now more distant.

Warmest and most cordial greetings to all at this magnificent Anniversary Rally of our Party and the closing of its Centenary celebrations, a day of struggle for rights, peace, freedom, democracy and socialism. A greeting in particular to the many democrats without party affiliation who are here with us at this very special moment for us Portuguese communists.

Here we are determined and confident in the project we have and want to build. A construction that is done every day on the most diverse fronts but which is first and foremost based in companies and workplaces. With the workers and for the workers, this is our commitment that has lasted for one hundred and one years. We are well aware of the difficulties because we feel them just like all other workers. We know the problems, not because of what they tell us, but because we are there, we feel them and we face them.