PCP expresses its profound sorrow for the death of the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Comandante Hugo Chávez, and conveys to the people and progressive and revolutionary forces of Venezuela its heartfelt condolences and feelings of fraternal solidarity in the name of Portuguese communists on the painful loss of the highest leader of the country and the Bolivarian Revolution.
Hugo Chávez, a ardent patriot deeply identified with the aspirations of his people, dedicated his life to the defense of the interests of the people of Venezuela, leading a process of profound economic, social, political and cultural transformations, grounded in the firm and courageous affirmation of national independence and sovereignty, with the affirmed objective of building a socialist society.
Hugo Chávez committed himself to an audacious process of cooperation and latin-american integration, oriented towards economic and social development throughout the continent and the liberation of Latin America from the ruinous oppression of the USA.
Firmly opposed to imperialism's policy of war and aggression, defender of peace and a new international order with greater equality and justice, Hugo Chávez also contributed to the development of ties of friendship between Portugal and Venezuela.
At a moment of profound pain and bereavement for all those that throughout the World followed the Bolivarian process with a spirit of solidarity and admiration, the Portuguese Communist Party reaffirms its confidence that the people of Venezuela, honoring the memory and ideals of Hugo Chávez and reinforcing the popular unity to which the Venezuelan President critically contributed, will know how to defend the historic achievements attained in the last fourteen years, how to defend the constitutional sovereignty and legality of Venezuela and give continuity to the Bolivarian Revolution.
The United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV, the Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV) and all the forces committed to the progressive and revolutionary process in Venezuela had been sure to count on the ever-lasting solidarity of the Portuguese communists.
