Since the XX Congress, our Party has been called to face new and complex challenges, responding to complex and unprecedented demands. We were called to respond to the violent political and ideological offensive resulting from the evolution of the national and international political situation, and worsened, in recent months, by the use that reactionary forces and big capital make of the epidemic outbreak to attack the PCP, rights and freedoms and the democratic regime itself.

With courage, creativity and confidence, the Party did not lockdown itself. It maintained the action, the initiative, dynamized the resistance and the struggle of the workers and populations.

In this task, the cadres play a decisive role that, with determination, kept our party collective active and responsive.

Ensuring the functioning of the organisations, the sale of Avante!, the collection of dues and the organisation of funds. It was with them that we remained connected to the workers and populations, mobilising them to fight for their rights and claims. It was with them that we held sessions, debates, rallies and our great Avante! Festival.

That is why they are essential for the Party that we are, the Cadres distinguish themselves from the other members of the Party, due to their availability and the acceptance of tasks, however simple they may be.

In the group of cadres, it is fair to highlight Party officials. Politically and ideologically firm cadres, an example of dedication to the cause of the workers and people who are not, nor have ever been, employees or mere volunteers, nor have a professional career, but are professional revolutionaries, fully dedicated and committed, with total availability for the struggle.

A valuable asset of the PCP, they have always been the backbone throughout the Party's 100 years of history. Integrated in collective work, with duties and rights equal to all militants, they assume an indispensable role in the dynamism and leadership of the organisation and in all activity. It is not the attacks and slander against them, directed by opportunists and class enemies that wipe out their revolutionary role in the struggle of today and of the future.

We must continue to pay full attention to the recruitment of cadres, officials, workers and labourers, in particular young people and women.

Comrades

The Party's policy on cadres is based on fundamental pillars – the knowledge of their characteristics, their preparation and training, their capacities and potential, their attitude in the Party and in society, their character, their commitment to the tasks assigned, their future prospects to assume greater responsibilities.

The knowledge and evaluation of the cadres demands, from those responsible and from the leadership bodies, a global assessment, without superficialities, without emphasising only successes or errors.

The current situation requires cadres increasingly prepared for practical political intervention and, on the ideological level, to know in close connection with practice and life, how to apply the Party's theoretical basis - Marxism-Leninism - in the concrete action of the reality in which they operate.

We always take into account the importance of forming cadres, their insertion and participation in the political struggle, the day-to-day militancy and the importance of ideological formation as indispensable for their progress.

In the period since the XX Congress, 26 courses were held at the Party School in which 912 comrades participated, including the course for Party Officials. In the Regional Organisations 103 training actions were carried out with the participation of 1450 comrades.

To broaden and deepen the theoretical and political preparation of the cadres, it is essential to read and study the documents of the Party, the Avante! and O Militante, the theoretical works of Marxism-Leninism and Álvaro Cunhal, participate in the newsletters of their organisation, in plenary sessions, assemblies, National or Regional Meetings, Seminars, Conferences, Debates and, of course, in Congresses and in their preparation. It is fair to highlight the celebrations of the Centennial of the October Revolution, the Conference on the II Centenary of the birth of Marx, the initiatives on the 150th anniversary of the birth of Lenin, the Conference of the II Centenary of the birth of Engels, among others.

It is true that difficulties and shortcomings persist in our policy of cadres. However, it is essential to valorise positive steps in aspects related to the Party cadres, with emphasis on the survey and accountability for specific tasks, with particular attention to company cells.

Comrades

In order to respond to the needs of strengthening the Party and the demands of the struggle, the following lines of work are essential:

• Regularly discuss in the organisms, particularly in the secretariats, the evaluation of the cadres and the survey of new comrades to be held responsible, in particular workers, youth and women, defining concrete tasks and appreciating their materialisation;

• Extend the responsibility of comrades for tasks appropriate to their availability and characteristics;

• Evaluate among the cadres that stand out those who have conditions to be Party officials;

• Control the execution of the tasks, indispensable for supporting the work, the knowledge and the development of the cadres;

• Extend the theoretical preparation of the cadres, leveraging the existing means, in the Party School and in regional organisations.

To implement these measures is to give life to the motto of our Congress:

Organise Struggle Advance!

Democracy and Socialism!

Long live the XX Congress! Long live the PCP!

Long live the Portuguese Communist Party!