A year after the outbreak of the epidemic in Portugal, and despite the advances in science at the service of health, we continue to face a time of great complexities and uncertainties. The health situation has worsened significantly with a negative evolution of the epidemic, which is putting the National Health Service and its professionals under enormous pressure, with consequences in the very significant increase in hospitalisations, particularly in Intensive Care Units.

Good evening, At the end of an election day that took place in such a specific, complex and difficult moment in our collective life, I would like to begin by highlighting the civic example of the thousands of members and workers at the Polling stations who, throughout the country, allowed the organization of this Electoral Act and ensured that it took place smoothly and under conditions that guaranteed the protection of everyone’s health. To all, special greetings and thanks.

The Portuguese Government assumes, during the first half of 2021, the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. For the PCP, this should be an opportunity for Portugal to put on the European Union's agenda the need to question the course and policies that it imposes on the peoples and which are at the root of the social inequalities and asymmetries of development that pass through it.

The Central Committee of the PCP, meeting on 12 December 2020, made the assessment of the XXI Congress, took decisions on the leadership work, analysed the recent developments of the national situation and of the mass struggle, the elections for President of the Republic, the intervention of the PCP and defined its priorities for action.