"The Portuguese State has to comply with what the Constitution determines, which is [to be] a State in search of the path to peace", the communist leader said, at the beginning of a meeting with workers' organisations, in Vendas Novas (Évora).

Questioned by journalists about the visit of the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, to Portugal, Paulo Raimundo began by saying that "the best way" to show solidarity with the Ukrainians "is to create all the conditions to end the war".

"Our Constitution is very clear. Portugal's role is a role of building peace in the world and that is what I would like this visit to result in", he stressed, emphasising that he sees "no reason for it not to be so".

Admitting that the country can establish agreements with Ukraine, the PCP's secretary-general considered that Portugal should make "a clear and evident contribution" to peace in that country, in a gesture of "reaffirmation as a peacebuilder".

"There is no way to find peace without forcing all those involved in the war to sit down at the table", he pointed out, rejecting the idea that Portugal does not have the conditions to do so, because it is a small country.

For Paulo Raimundo, Portugal "has diplomatic conditions and has the forums where it participates to demand this path".

Considering that the "genuine idea of seeking peace is more widespread", the communist leader said he has no doubt that the PCP has been harmed in the elections because of its position on the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

"We followed up during the campaign and they tried to give us the idea of a position that we never had. We are for peace and, from a party point of view, we continue to be perhaps a little isolated in this demand for peace", he added.

The PCP's secretary-general took the opportunity to point out that Spain, Norway and Ireland have, as of today, formally recognised Palestine as a State, classifying it as "an event of great importance".

"It means that the number of countries that are unilaterally doing so is, in a short while, greater than those that are closing ranks, in a supposed decision by the European Union as a whole", he stressed.

The communist leader criticised the previous and current governments for understanding that they "took refuge in this cloak" of the European Union's decision "when what they have to do is unilaterally recognise Palestine as a sovereign and independent people and nation".

Raimundo participated in this meeting in Vendas Novas after a visit to a winery and contacts with wine producers in Cabeção, in the municipality of Mora, and before the session "In defence of the NHS", in Montemor-o-Novo, also in the district of Évora.

Read Also: High security and anthem in the reception of Zelensky in Figo Maduro (Portuguese version)