Portuguese Communist Party 1974
Translated: for Marxists.org by Mitch Abidor.
Portuguese men and women!
The government of M. Caetano has been overthrown!
LET THE ENTIRE PEOPLE UNITE AND FIGHT SO THAT FASCISM BE LIQUIDATED FOREVER AND DEMOCRATIC FREEDOMS ESTABLISHED! SO THAT THE COLONIAL WAR BE IMMEDIATELY ENDED AND AN END BE PUT TO COLONIALISM! SO THAT PORTUGAL FREE ITSELF FROM MONOPOLIES AND FOREIGN IMPERIALISM!
The events of the last months have revealed the extreme gravity of the economic, social and political situation to which the fascist government has led the country, as well as the evermore firm and conscious will of wide popular sectors, who are on the path of struggle against exploitation and poverty, repression, war, colonialism, monopoly rule and subjugation to imperialism.
The brave struggles of hundreds of thousands of workers — in enterprises, fields and unions — add up to important actions by the most diverse sectors of the populace.
A movement of officers within the framework of the armed forces has also arisen as a consequence of the crisis of the regime and of opposition to the colonial war; it rapidly grew, passing to working directly for the overthrow of the government.
The fall of the government of M. Caetano is an extraordinary event, one that can open a new road in the life of the Portuguese.
In this historic hour, the PCP warmly salutes the working class, the laboring and democratic masses who, for long years, have selflessly fought for the overthrow of fascism.
The PCP also salutes the patriots of the armed forces who have succeeded in overthrowing the government, affirming its support for all the immediate measures that are being taken on the road to democracy, peace and national independence.
The PCP is ready to collaborate with all those who wish to fight as one for the creation of a Provisional Government that will establish democratic freedoms and put an end to the war, and that in the short term promotes elections for a Constituent Assembly, through which the Portuguese people will freely choose its leaders and its destiny.
The immediate dissolution of the organs and instruments of fascist power (National Assembly, PIDE-DGS, Legion, etc.) is indispensable.
The immediate liberation of al political prisoners (in Portugal as well as the colonies), and the return of all those who had to flee the country because of opposition to the war and other political reasons is indispensable.
The ceasing of all press censorship, and the freedoms of assembly, of association, of union activity, of the formation of political parties, of demonstration, and the right to strike are indispensable.
The immediate suspension of all military actions in Africa, and the opening of negotiations with the republic of Guinea-Bissau and the liberation movements of Angola (MPLA) and Mozambique (FRELIMO), with the vision of immediate independence, is indispensable.
Only with the mobilization of the widest masses can we bring about the liquidation of fascism and the establishment of democratic freedoms, the liquidation of colonialism and an end to the colonial wars, the liquidation of monopolies and the power of imperialism in our country.
The working class, all workers, youth and women, students and intellectuals, soldiers and sailors, non-commissioned officers and anti-fascist officers, all are called upon , in this all-important hour in the life of our country, to unite and decisively fight for the great popular aspirations.
The democratic movement must carry on its united action, making its structures increasingly dynamic and taking in evermore strata of the population.
All over the country, in every locality, in the factories, in the fields, in the schools, in neighborhoods large meetings must be promoted, more and more commissions must be organized. Carry out demonstrations and strikes; the streets must be conquered!
It is incumbent upon the popular masses, the Portuguese people, that they take their destinies in their hands and, in liberating themselves forever from their enemies — fascism, colonialism and imperialism, open the road to a different life.
For freedom, for an end to the colonial wars, for national independence!