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Following is an exclusive interview for World

Magazine with Alvaro Cunhal, general secretary of the

Portuguese Communist Party, on the occasion of the

ae anniversary of the Portuguese Revolution on April
» 1974.

ne

Q: What is the outlok for Portugal, three years
after revolution?

_ A: In balance, our estimate of the three years
Since the overthrow of the fascist dictatorship on the
April 25, 1974, is highly positive. Apart from the ir-
regularities, accidents and setbacks of the revolutio-
Nary process, of reaction’s and imperialism’s violent
offensives and the policy of capitalist recovery of the
Present Socialist Party government, the Portuguese
People have successfully managed to defend the fun-
damental achievements obtained with the revolution.

The Portuguese people were tyrannized by a fas-

cist dictatorship; today they live in a democratic re-
gime.

They were engaged in a criminal colonial war;
today they live in peace and are able to have brotherly
relations with the liberated peoples of the former Por-
tuguese colonies which are courageously moving to-
wards socialism.

They were exploited by the power of the
monopolist groups and the great landowners; today,
after nationalizing the banks and primary sectors and
€xpropriating the land of numerous big owners, there
exists a vast sector of nationalized enterprises, col-
lective units of production in the Land Reform areas,
Cooperatives and enterprises with self-management,
that democratic Portugal is on the road to socialism.

It is a fact that these historical achievements
have still not been consolidated. The present govern-'
ment, with the support of the reactionary parties
(CDS and PSD-PPD), is carrying out an anti-worker
and anti-popular policy that in an increasingly open
way disrespects the Constitution.

Salaries are frozen. Prices spiral. Dismissals are
decreed. Exploitation is intensified and real wages
are lowered, thus the workers are being forced to bear
the whole burden of the economic and financial dif-
ficulties the government’s policies and economic
sabotage are leading the country to.

The government has arbitrarily and illegally
given back lands to the former bosses who had sabot-
aged them and led them into bankruptcy, and which
the workers themselves saved from being closed
down. Nationalizations and workers’ control are held
in the balance. The government links itself more and

More to imperialism where it assumes a dependent ©

position.

Such a policy is not ‘“‘economic recovery” but
capitalist recovery. It is not a national, independent
policy but a policy tending to re-establish Portugal’s
submission to imperialism. Proceeding with this pol-
icy means that it will inevitably be accompanied by
administrative and repressive measures, as is al-
ready happening. Thus, the fascist conspiracy is not

he only danger hanging over the Portuguese democ-

racy. The policy of capitalist recovery of the present

government (in alliance with the right) is another
danger, and a not inconsiderable one, for the democ-
ratic future and the independence of Portugal.

A numerical majority of communists and
socialists exists in the Republic Assembly. But the SP
has allied itself with the right, for its capitalist recov-
ery policy, against the workers. SP members and
voters are expressing their discontent with this policy
and SP members and voters are expressing their dis-
content with this policy and SP runs the risk of a
vertical split of its organization and influence.

Q: What does the PCP see as its most urgent
tasks at this time?

_A: The most urgent tasks are to stop a putsch or
advance of fascism and reaction; impeding capitalist
recovery, defending and consolidationg liberties; de-
fending the rights of the workers, the land reform, the

_ nationalizations and workers’ control; overcoming

the economic and financial disequilibrium, and con-
tinuing with the construction of the democratic re-
gime laid down in the Constitution. And on this basis,
creating the necessary conditions for a democratic
alternative to the present-day policy.

The unity of the working class, the development
of the peasant movement, the cooperation of democ-
rats, primarily of communists and socialists, the al-
liance between the people and the armed forces, are
essential conditions for the accomplishment of these
objectives.

The workingclass movement, that is both democ-
ratic and of the people, is powerful, dynamic and

strongly organized. Continual attempts and di-

visionist maneuvers have been made and supported
in reactionary campaigns, in government action, and
in interference and foreign financial help. Despite
this, however, the Portuguese Union Movement at-
tained extraordinary success in its Congress, held
January 27-30. It kept the Portuguese unions’ liberty
and unity in tact on the basis of an independent class
policy and the determination of the workers to defend
the liberties and achievements of the revolution.

The organization of the Collective Units of Pro-
duction has also been developing, as well as the or-
ganizations and united movements of the small and
medium farmers and the actions of democratic
municipalities in defense of the population’s in-
terests.

The situation is very complex and dangerous but
we have confidence in the Portuguese people’s strug-
gle.

One thing is certain: democracy is not defended,
consolidated and constructed against the workers but
with the workers.

The PCP, whose membership and affluence is
growing, continues being an indispensable force for

the continuation of the democratic process in Por-

tugal.

Q: How can people in the U.S. show their support
for Portuguese democracy?

A: By revealing the true situation that exists in
Portugal to the people of North America, and to sup-
port the right of the Portuguese people to decide their
own destiny, without pressure or interference in their
internal affairs by imperialism.

PACIFIC TRIBUNE—MAY 6, 1977—Page 3