The Central Committee was elected with the votes of 1297 delegates, 1228 in favour, 45 against and 24 abstentions. Actual composition of the Central Committee elected on the XVII Congress Adelino Pereira da Silva Metal Worker. 65 years old Adília Maria Prates Candeias Textile worker. 50 years old

We live in difficult times, times of great insecurity and uncertainty. Imperialism’s growing aggressiveness confronts Humanity with untold dangers, as is well testified by two major wars of aggression – Afghanistan and Iraq. The US invasion and occupation of Iraq was based upon lies and ignored the extraordinary anti-war movement that arose all over the world.

Comrades, The most striking feature of the world evolution during the last four years, is the brutal escalation of imperialism’s offensive to expand the domination of big capital to the whole planet.

Dear comrades, dear friends Esteemed national and foreign guests I would like to thank and greet you for your solidary presence, and as well fraternally greet all the comrade delegates, and through you the generous collective of the Party, which is made up by several generations of communists who created, rooted and strengthened this great Party, the Portuguese Communist Party.