CPI(M) Greets 17TH PCP Congress

The central committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) conveys its warm fraternal greetings to all the delegates attending the 17th Congress of the Portuguese Communist Party and through them to the entire membership of the PCP.

The PCP Congress is being held at a time when the Left and progressive movement the world over is faced with multi-faceted challenges. We have seen during the past decade how exploiting the situation arising out of the dismantling of the Soviet Union, the United States has embarked on a quest of hegemony and total domination. The aggressive measures taken by the Bush administration after the September 11 attacks have resulted in blatant onslaughts on the sovereignty of independent countries. It has promoted authoritarian and rightwing attacks on progressive movements and the rights of citizens. Neither the United Nations Charter nor international laws have any sanctity for it. The aggression and occupation of Iraq is the worst example of imperialist behaviour. But the people of Iraq are fighting back and putting up a brave and heroic resistance, proving once again that imperialism cannot suppress and subjugate a people forever.

The Portuguese Communist Party has a glorious history of struggle and sacrifices. We note with pride the role played by the Portuguese communists in the struggle against imperialism and its drive for global domination. The PCP has taken upon itself the responsibility of uniting all the anti-imperialist and peace loving people of Portugal in this struggle against imperialism.

Simultaneously, we also note, how the PCP has waged mass struggles on the issues arising out of the European Union and against the reactionary domestic policies. Your Party has been in the forefront of the struggle to expose the real nature of European integration and the policies of economic domination. The PCP has rightly highlighted the need to increase the cooperation among Left wing forces to fight against the concerted offensive by capital and for a different Europe inspired by anti-capitalist and democratic social transformation. The CPI(M) also notes the leading role played by the Portuguese Communist Party in the fight to resist the neo-liberal privatisation in Portugal.

You are aware that in the elections held this year in India, the people of India delivered a crushing defeat to the right reactionary regime headed by the Bharatiya Janata Party. The CPI(M) had entered these elections with a three-fold objective: defeat the right-wing communal forces; install an alternative secular government at the centre; and increase the representation of the CPI(M) and the Left in the parliament. You will be glad to know that the CPI(M) has increased its strength from 33 seats in the last elections to 44 seats this time. It is the highest ever won by the Party. The CPI(M) is the third largest party in the Indian parliament. The representation of the Left as a whole has increased. It has now a tally of 61 members in a house of 545.

The significance of this lies not only in projecting the growing strength of the Left and its increasing relevance but also the vantage position that it has acquired in Indian politics. The United Progressive Alliance government that has come in place is dependent on the support of the Left. The CPI(M) and the Left played a crucial role in putting in place this government.


While the Party has no illusions about the character of this government, the main task before the Party would be to keep the communal and reactionary forces in check. It would however, spare no effort in both defending and advancing the interests of the working class and the common people.

Once again, on behalf of the central committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) we convey our warm fraternal greetings to the 17th Congress of the Portuguese Communist Party. We are confident that this Congress will be able to work out the correct strategy and tactics to meet the situation and rally all the progressive and democratic forces to carry forward the struggle for the establishment of a socialist society in Portugal. While such a struggle will be long and arduous, on behalf of the CPI(M) we assure you of our solidarity and support.

The CPI(M) and the PCP have a long association of friendship and understanding. We are certain that this mutual trust and bonds of friendship will get further strengthened in the days ahead.

People's Democracy

CPI(M) Greets 17TH PCP Congress