Quanto mais as coisas mudam... Os 75 anos do Partido Comunista Português

Abstract

The evolution of communist and post-communist parties in Western Europe creates perplexity when dealing with the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP). The party has not suffered from an "implosion" as have other communist parties that evolved from marxism-leninism to the point of changing their names. The PCP celebrated its 75th anniversary in 1996 as one of the strongest communist parties in Western Europe and as the oldest Portuguese political party. Given that the PCP continues rooted in an orthodox, marxist-leninist foundation when other communist parties have evolved in the face of changes in ex-Soviet Bloc nations, the PCP’s electoral results are quite good. The PCP is analyzed below in terms of European integration, social and syndical issues, internal divisions, political competition, local power, internal organization and finances, parliamentary activity, cultural activity, electoral results, and renovative attempts. By focusing on these issues and the party's adaptation to them, an understanding of its present and future political stances is facilitated.