The President's decisions following the government's resignation – to ensure the approval of the proposed State Budget; subsequently dissolve Parliament; and call early elections – cannot be assessed without considering the serious situation affecting the people and the country and the urgent need for a policy that effectively provides solutions.
This is the big question that becomes more evident with each passing day.
Solving the problems and harsh reality that the workers, populations and country face every day.
The Government's resignation, precipitated by the recent judicial developments involving several of its members, is related with the policies executed by the Government, which have aggravated the problems, inequalities and injustices affecting the workers and people.
The increase in cost of living and the loss of purchasing power of workers and pensioners; the dramatic worsening of problems in the health, housing, education or justice sectors are blatant examples of the consequences of the Government of the Socialist Party (PS) and its absolute majority, which has accumulated reasons for discontent and openly frustrated the expectations they had created.
Parliament will be dissolved and there will be early legislative elections.
The workers and people will determine the future composition of Parliament.
The workers and people will decide their own future, interests and aspirations.
Recent years have clearly shown that only by strengthening PCP and CDU can conditions be created to defend rights and implement an alternative policy.
It was so in the past and so it continues to be in this juncture. A stronger PCP and CDU will bring us closer to the possibility of advancements in living conditions, the conquest of rights.
That is what is being decided: turning the next elections into an opportunity to strengthen PCP and CDU. An opportunity to break with right-wing politics and open the way for a policy capable of solving the serious problems affecting the country.
The last few years show that, beyond the left-wing proclamations the PS government adorned itself with, only the reinforcement of PCP and CDU can guarantee a persistent fight against injustice and inequality, the defence of national interests, and the construction of a better life we deserve.
Life has unmasked the illusion that led many to think that giving strength to PS would function as insurance against right-wing politics.
Not only did PS not hinder right-wing politics, it promoted them.
Moreover, not only did PS not stand up to reactionary forces, it enlivened and has invigorated its agenda and objectives.
The policy of the PS government and its absolute majority has served the economic groups, and converges with the positions defended by the Social Democratic Party (PSD), CDS, Chega and Liberal Initiative, no matter how cynically they try to disguise it.
A convergence resulting in this scandalous accumulation of profits by large companies while the vast majority of the population face growing hardships.
That many of the right-wing parties admit the approval of the State Budget is quite telling.
They agree on containing wages and pensions, with more tax benefits for the economic groups; on the effective reduction in corporate taxes; on sponsoring Public Private Partnerships; they agree on transferring more than 8 billion euros to the private health sector that profits from disease; and they agree not to regulate the most liberalized sector of the national economy: housing. It is revealing that they admit passing a budget that, among other measures, assumes the unqualified increase in the Unique Circulation Tax (IUC).
In fact, to defend the interests of banks, big distributors, the energy companies, the right-wing does not need a different budget proposal; this state budget proposal serves those aims.
That is what moves them; that is why they converge.
The national reality reveals a need for an alternative policy that solves the national problems and the serious economic and social situation we are experiencing; that ensures an increase in wages and pensions; the defence of the National Health System (NHS) and access to healthcare; that guarantees the right to housing, the rights of children and parents, the right to education and justice; that rejects privatization and promiscuity between the political and economic powers; a policy that defends sovereignty and development.
And above all, the national reality calls for an intensification of the struggle.
This is no time to wait, because while it is true we are facing a political crisis, the hardships of everyday life mark our reality.
The commitments to housing, the difficulties accessing the NHS, the low wages and pensions, the high cost of living, these problems will not remain idle. These problems will not wait.
Now is the time to demand immediate answers and influence the future political course.
Therefore, PCP calls for the mobilization of workers, populations and broad layers and social sectors, in particular to participate tomorrow, in Porto and Lisbon, in the national demonstration convened by CGTP-IN, demanding an increase in wages and pensions and against the increase in the cost of living, but also for the right to health, education, housing, justice, a policy that responds to the problems of each and every one.
Convinced there are solutions to national problems, for a Portugal with a future, we will continue to intervene, to fight for the implementation of the alternative policy.
PCP and CDU see the electoral battle with confidence and as an opportunity to strengthen their ranks and electoral expression and thus have greater strength in defending the interests of workers and the people, in building a policy that serves their interests.
This is the time for patriots, democrats, workers, people, everyone who lives and works here to give a strong signal, to take up, with their action, their struggle and their vote, the demand for a different path, an alternative path.