While Paulo Raimundo acknowledges the party’s electoral decline, he rejects the notion that it suggests the party’s potential disappearance. He highlights the communists’ capacity for resistance amid a climate of hostility and belittling and the prolonged falsification of the PCP’s positions. 

This Tuesday, Paulo Raimundo marks two years as secretary general of the PCP, a tenure characterized by his criticism of the Government’s right-wing policy  a clear distancing from the PS, and five elections in which the party struggled to reverse its declining trend. 

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Largely unknown to the public, Paulo Raimundo was elected on November 12, 2022, to succeed Jerónimo de Sousa as general secretary at the party’s National Conference in Corroios, Setúbal district. This made him the fourth communist leader since April 25, 1974. 

Electoral Decline and Struggles in Recent Elections 

Since taking on the party leadership, Paulo Raimundo has led the PCP in five elections: two regional elections in Madeira, one in the Azores, the legislative elections in March 2024, and the European elections in June. 

In both national elections, the party continued its electoral decline, a trend that has persisted since 2019, following its involvement in the geringonça alliance. 

In the March 2024 general elections, the CDU recorded its worst result ever, securing just 3.17% of the vote and electing only four MEPs. In the European elections, although the party managed to elect one MEP, João Oliveira, it achieved its lowest result ever in those elections, with 4.12%. 

While acknowledging the reality of the electoral decline—emphasizing that he does not bury his head in the sand—Paulo Raimundo rejected the idea that it signals the party’s potential disappearance.

He emphasized the communists’ capacity for resistance amid a context of hostility and belittling and the prolonged distortion of the PCP’s positions.

Paulo Raimundo on the night of the 2024 legislative elections said: 

“We went into this battle with the idea that the CDU was going to disappear But the people responded by saying that the CDU is missed.”

Criticism of the PSD/CDS Government and Calls for Alternative Policies 

Since the elections, the PCP has taken the lead in criticizing the PSD/CDS government. On March 13th, just three days after the legislative elections, the party was the first to announce it would present a motion of censure against the government’s program, though the motion was ultimately rejected. 

Over the past eight months, the PCP’s secretary general has become increasingly critical of the PSD/CDS government, which he believes is driven by the interests of big capital.

He argues that the government is merely exacerbating and intensifying the policies implemented during the PS’s absolute majority and has vowed to fight against these policies. 

He said at this year’s Avante! Festival: 

“Every day, with every decision, with every new package, the PSD/CDS Government is supporting the agenda of monopoly capital’s interests. A dangerous agenda of exploitation, destruction of public services and alienation of national interests that needs to be defeated.” 

In response to these policies, Paulo Raimundo has emphasized the need for a “rupture” and an alternative policy led by the PCP. Highlighting the distinctive and unique nature of the CDU project, Raimundo has also made efforts to distance himself from any formal or informal coalition with the PS, while still expressing openness to potential convergences. 

During the campaign for the legislative elections, the PCP’s secretary-general stated that the ‘contraption’ was unrepeatable and rejected giving any blank check to the PS—referring to potential post-electoral agreements. He committed only to evaluating any proposed understandings on a case-by-case basis. 

Similarly, for the 2025 local elections, in response to a proposal from Livre for a left-wing front, particularly in Lisbon, Paulo Raimundo stated that: 

“It is difficult to count on the PS at a local level.” 

He ultimately put forward his own candidacy for the capital’s local authority, led by João Ferreira. 

Strengthening the PCP for the Future 

Internally, the communist secretary general expressed his goal of making the PCP even more connected to life.

He reiterated this appeal on the eve of the party’s 22nd Congress, which will take place between December 13 and 15 in Almada, urging members to strengthen their intervention, organization, and influence among the masses. 

Ahead of the party’s upcoming congress, he stated at a meeting in October: 

“Without a stronger PCP, many things can be done, but the direction the country needs will never be opened up.”  

He emphasized that strengthening the accountability of PCP members was the most important measure. 

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