The CDU alliance included the Portuguese Communists, the Greens, and others. CDU is the United Democratic Coalition (in Portuguese: Coligação Democrática Unitária ]
Lisbon, Oct. 4, 2015
CDU salutes the thousands of candidates, activists and militants of PCP, PEV, ID and independent citizens, the CDU youth, who with their generous dedication and their irreplaceable activism helped to explain the issues, to mobilise and to build a solid confidence that a better and more dignified life is possible.
The result obtained by CDU confirms its political achievement during the last elections. It points to progress in its vote. In a result all the more important as the activism becomes more demanding , whether at the parliamentary level or in terms of struggle, in the near future will be part of the political and social life of the country.
It is result that expresses the political current of those who see in CDU righteousness, seriousness and an indispensable role in defending their rights. It confirms the value of the most combative and necessary force to defend the interests of the workers and the people. It confirms the determination and coherence of the CDU in the fight against injustice and the struggle for a better life that very soon the evolution of political life will need.
We have to note that this result was achieved under an intense ideological campaign and in an election conditioned by blackmail and fear.
It is a result whose interpretation cannot be separated from the obvious and even outrageous context of unequal treatment.
The CDU carried out a remarkable campaign of explanation and mobilisation, with a wide popular participation that goes beyond thevelections. A campaign based on truth, work, honesty, competence, seriousness, which are values that we assume and do not abandon. As we have stated repeatedly, the MPs electedby CDU, come what may, whatever happens, will always count to defend the interests of the workers, the people and the country.
The result of the PSD/CDS, [The governing colaition: PSD is a social democratic party. CDS (Centro Democrático e Social) is a Christian Democratic, conservative political party.] regardless of being the coalition receiving the most votes, expresses a clear condemnation of the policy pursued in the last four years of their government.
In fact, the vote now obtained by them, means a huge loss of votes, a loss in percentage points and MPs . It is inseparable from fight that the workers, the people and the CDU fought against the policy of economic decline and social regression pursued by PSD and CDS.
The most important reading of the results and the new political framework is the confirmed defeat of the PSD and CDS project to continue their work to destroy rights, attack workers’ and people’s incomes, a project of subordination and national dependence.
The election results confirm a major defeat of the PSD and CDS, who lost their majority and were heavily punished by the Portuguese people. It would be intolerable that the President of the Republic would want, against the will of the Portuguese people, to give them the possibility to continue in government. The PCP and the Green Ecological Party for their part will reject in Parliament any such attempt. This aim will be defeated unless the PS lets it pass.
PS, despite an electoral growth, obtained a result that was not one of its best.
We face demanding times. But these are also times of confidence in the struggle and resistance of many millions of Portuguese.
We have confidence that in this fight will have the presence, coherence and combativity of the PCP and PEV MPs.
Honouring our commitments, we take up right away , at the beginning of parliamentary work, the presentation of a set of legislative initiatives in order to restore and hand back the income and rights stolen during these past years.
– Enhancing the value of wages, including raising the minimum wage to 600 euros in 2016, and the real purchasing power of pensions;
– Combat precariousness, particularly with changes to labour legislation and the adoption of a National Plan to Combat Precariousness and the valorisation of collective bargaining;
– Restoration of wages, pensions, holidays and other rights cuts, namely pension supplements;
– Strengthening and diversification of the Social Security financing and replacement of social benefits, particularly in child bonuses, unemployment and social benefits;
– Strengthening of the National Health Service and access to healthcare by hiring doctors, nurses and other professionals, reposition of transport of non-urgent patients and abolition of user fees;
– A fair tax policy that strongly taxes economic and financial groups and relieves taxes on workers, medium and small-size companies and the people;
– Repeal of the recent amendment to the Act of Voluntary Interruption of Pregnancy.
Aware of the difficulties and dangers that threaten the near future, either because the situation in the country poses serious and accumulated problems, or because the intention of the right-wing policy is to always place burdens on everyday life, the CDU reaffirms the conviction that the patriotic and left-wing policy we propose is the only way to confront and overcome national problems will emerge in the near future .Ours is the only answer to block the path of decline and impoverishment on which the right-wing policy – whatever the rearrangements that appear in the coming days – wants to lead the country.
As we have mentioned before, today we reaffirm: It is with CDU, with the strength of the people that it represents, that the Portuguese people will find, as it did before, every day and everywhere, the fight against injustice and the fight for a better life.
CDU salutes all those who entrusted it with their support and their vote, particularly the many thousands who did so for the first time. It reaffirms its firm commitment that, in its deeds, they will find a force that will not only fully honour its word, it will match their most legitimate aspirations.
Support and confidence which is a solid factor of encouragement to fight every day, and tomorrow will continue, for the conquest of a new political, patriotic and left-wing policy, to defend the interests of workers and the people, for the affirmation of Portugal as a sovereign and independent nation.
