Prices are rising, wages are not followed, labor laws have not changed since the Troika. For the PKP, the cocktail is ensured by the fact that the development of “struggle” and social struggle, “regardless” of the will of the party, is “inevitably” imposed on the streets: in this context, “the workers will not be leaning against the wall”. Jerome’s word.

These were some of the main conclusions of the meeting of the Central Committee of the PKP, which lasted for the last two days and ended with the communists repeatedly shooting at the same target: the government. At PKP headquarters on Tuesday in Jeronimo de Sousa, he spoke about the outcome of the meeting and even called the street protests a “logical consequence” of the “lack of government response” to issues such as rising inflation and low wages. .

At the same time, António Costa was sharply snapped a few days after the prime minister asked companies to “collectively” raise average wages by 20%: “This is not showing a grimace. How will you do? You offer 20% and then the civil service has a 0.9% increase? There is an insurmountable contradiction here.

Pointing to this “real erosion” of both wages and pensions, the PKP points the way: “the values ​​of April well expressed in the actions and struggles of workers and the population”, “workers’ rights” provided for in the Constitution, which accuses the government of non-compliance and namely, when it retains the expiration of collective bargaining in labor law; and “the action of mass organizations and movements”.

The left wants to return to the streets in power and is compared to a troika. PS trusts the fragility of former partners

At this point, despite the PKP’s strong ties to the trade unions and especially the CGTU, and at a time when some socialists doubt the power and ability of the PKP to seriously mobilize protests in the streets, Jeronimo insisted again and again: the fight is not being done at the will of the PKP, but by the will of the workers; nevertheless, and given that “no one is a witch and guesses the development of the processes of struggle that will inevitably exist”, the conclusion is clear: “We can make proclamations, but reality will impose itself. Conditions are being created for the development of the struggle.

Continuing to attack the government, Jeronimo made another demand, criticizing the rise in fuel prices: “The government must stop supporting the sanctions and demand their end. The sanctions adopted by the United States and followed by the government of Portugal are increasingly becoming sanctions against the living conditions of the Portuguese people.”

So when asked if the PKP is in defense of a Russia sanctioned by the invasion of Ukraine by the United States and the European Union — sanctions supported by Portugal — Jeronimo replied that the PKP doesn’t just want sanctions lifted against Vladimir Putin’s regime — it really is the end of “everything.” sanctions”, “scandalous theft”.

As for Russia, he insisted: “I don’t understand how Russia’s interests can be protected when it comes to protecting the interests of the Portuguese workers and people. We don’t think about Russia.”

At the party level, in the Central Committee, which is the first to be held since what happened immediately after the legislative elections, two innovations should be noted: the first is the entry of Paula Santos into the body’s political commission. , as she is the new leader of Parliament (a decision that Jeronimo considers “correct”); the second is the appointment of a national conference of the PKP, the purpose of which is to hold a “deep debate” on the problems of the country, as well as to “strengthen the party” on 12 and 13 November.