Socialist Challenge, 328/9 UpperStreet, London N1, Advertising 01-359 8371.
After Soares, Mitterrand?
THE PORTUGUESE Socialist Party (PS) and its leader Mario: Soares have resolved. governmental stalemate in Portugal, agreement with the right-wing Centre Democrats (CDS), whereby the tatter will receive thrne Ministries as a price for their support to the ревтроив мілівну ст гогоги Апань Ever since the massive Portuguese working class in November 1975. It has been the Socalist Party which Mas been the contral instrument for maintaining bourgeois democracy. The situation since then has been marked by a palitical especially over land reform, the Portuguese working ciass has not allowed the Soares govemment to ride roughshod over its interests.
Soares preferred an alliance with the Centre to one witt he Communist Party (PCP). This was not so much because the PCP was putting forward unacceptable demands, but simply bacause the move could have been misinterpreted by the international bourgeoisie and the working class. naturally have opposed any idea of a PS-PCP goverment BETECIMIY here the PCP had opposed th attached to ita proposed loan to the Portuguese government. The odd PCP minister acceniable. but the POP which collaborated with the CDS.
More to the point the PCP militante would have probably refused to accept the pact for social peace' (austerity measures) demanded by Soares. So Portugal now has a coalition government oppositon BUT INSISTOLd Portuguese capital and is unlikely to lead to any long-term The Soars experience will provide an Francois Mitterrand and the Socialist Party (PS) in France. With the collapse of the Union of the Left, Mitterrand is rasponsibline:
French Communist Party (PCF). If the PS emerges as the single largest party, an alliance with Giscard's men to form 5 Ps-dominaled government cannot be excluded, In which case the PCF would be in opposition (through its own choice) in France as well.
Despite its 'Eurocommunis:' stance, the PCF is closer, in some ways, to Cunhal in Portugal rather than Carrillo and Berlinguer in Spain and italy, What this indicates is that it a racio to ascribe ene same tactical quantiCommunist Party in Europe — a common mistake in the TAT OTT DIEDS in Portugal, Spain, France and haly, it is not enough for revolutionary socialists to fall back on the timeless truths examine our attitude to programme we would put forward for a genuine workers' government. These are the questions we must answar before the European workers' movement if we are not to be outdistanced by the centrists and the Communist Parties THE FARCE continues. The Laveller and Peace News received a visit last Monday from Sergeants Blackmore and Altomey General was considering a prosecution against them because they published the name of an army Intelligence in the court proceedings ünder the Secrets Act against Crispin Aubrey, Jonn Berry and Duncan Camobell.
This is yet another example of the grotesque censorship laws which exist In Britain, We are in compiee solidarity win une Loveller ano Fosce Nows. Ye wHo DIscUssIng with both itaningful over the next few weeks. This is vital because of crampions or pross Tracaom in rice beet wIl not De waging a tearless campaign to defend the quest on, The treadom they detend 1s essantially that of those who agree with them. How many columne will the ideological mercenary, Bernard Levin, produce in farpur of there be in The Guardian? How many liberals will protestin the House of Commons?
The struggle for democratic rights, including freedom of the press, is not somathing that we can take for granted Left wing papers should understand that while the old trade All might nos be totally sufficient to deal with our problems, i: nonetheless provides a uselu starting point.
Distributionand albeit temporarily. THIE They nave reached an Soares govemment, including the setbacks suffered by the economic Portuguese Monater Fund would conditions would have been refused to enter a government with a Communist Party in satisfactory solution for example to of an alliance with the TO EVErY With actual or potantial governmental crises of dual power or whatever. must "алопутрив" month, witness Official papers how we can make this solidarity more papers in SOCIALIST CHALLENGE, 26 January, 1978, page 2