History of the Left Bloc
Portugal
Discussions on the formation of a Left Block began in mid1998. Discreetly the leaderships of the PSR, the UDP and Politica XX1 took the first steps towards reaching a basic political agreement and setting the basis of the new movement, without rushing into a fusion, without dissolving the existing organisations, and without requiring unity in all areas of intervention.
The presence from the beginning of independents who supported the project was a crucial aspect of the Block and gave it a much broader appeal than that of a simple electoral alliance of the three organisa-
At the same time a political and organisational agreement organisations committed them to make the convergence of positions and practices, not an arena disputes, enabling rapid progress in building the structures needed for the electoral campaigns that
The results of the European parliament elections in June 1999 bolstered the current's confidence and public profile-it had clearly established itself as the fifth main political force in the country with a real chance of winning seats in the national parliament.
Subjects which had long been campaigning issues for the PSR— like the legalisation of all drugs and their distribution under medical supervision by the state, or the recognition of civil rights for gay and lesbian couples and opposition to the burning of solid industrial waste, were immediately taken up by the Block and became central arguments in the European campaign.
On the other hand the UDP's deep roots in the popular and trade union movements added a new dimension to the Block's intervention and increased its 6 International Viewpoint #317-318 January 2000 ability to develop a discourse based in the concerns of those sectors.
NATO's intervention in Kosovo and the Block's ability to mobilise swiftly and develop a clear anti-imperialist position (in contrast to the PCP which ignored the responsibilities of the the Milosevic regime) was key for bringing together the membership and grass-roots organisations of the Block in the social movements.
The drawing up of electoral lists for the 22 national areas and the development of each of these local campaigns allowed the Block to draw around it a far greater number of activists than the sum of each individual organisation.
The hopes of a new left capable of reaching electoral targets and returning members of parliament gave many ex-members a renewed hope in political activity and produced an interesting convergence of several generations of social activists.
The Left Block's Convention at the beginning of 2000 will certainly be an opportunity for vigorous reaffirmation of a left organisation which which has made its mark on the country's political scene with a programme of clear opposition.
Unlike many experiences of left recomposition in Europe in the 1990s, the Block emerges as clear challenge to the political space occupied by the Communist Party, at a time when this party is going through a crucial internal debate.
Without falling into the trap of adopting a sectarian attitude, despite the regular provocations from the PCP leadership, the Block's unitary approach (now crowned with electoral success), is the best possible instrument for discussing and intervening in the internal debate of the PCP— which still dominates the Portuguese left.
The two Left Block members of parliament prevent the Socialists from enjoying an absolute majority. This has ensured constant media and interest in the Block's proposals.
The message of a "left to the left of government", without ambiguities, standing in elections so as to renew the opposition, and not just to win positions of power in order to gain influence over the PS, is a message which can win many more communist sectors to this fight. For the organisations of the Block this is the real strategic objective.
Sooner or later, this means a split in the PCP, with a (hopefully) significant part of that organisation adopting the aims and strategies of the Block. Who's who?
The UDP, an historic organisation of the Portuguese left came out of a federation of different groups of Maoist persuasion in the aftermath of 25 April 1974. At one time pro-Albanian, it was the the far left organisation with the most presence in the workers' movement, and had one member of parliament up until 1979. They returned to parliament in 1991 through an electoral alliance with the PCP
In the last ten years the UDP got marginally lower electoral scores than the PSR, with quite a significant difference in the capital, where the election of a first member of parliament for the far left was on the cards.
In the last two years the UDP underwent through a profound internal debate and significant changes leading to a greater emphasis on intervening in the
The convergence with the PSR was clear in these movements before the Block was formed. [JCL] *