The Communist Youth and its contribution to the Avante Festival

The Avante Festival is one of the most emblematic events in Portuguese politics, organized annually by the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP). The Portuguese Communist Youth (JCP), a youth organization linked to the PCP, plays a fundamental role in the organization and dynamics of this event. This article aims to explore the history of the JCP and its contribution to the Avante Festival, highlighting its role in promoting ideals and political engagement among young people.

The JPC, the result of a merger between the Communist Youth Union (UJC), which brought together young workers, and the Communist Students Union (UEC), was founded in 1979 and emerged in a context of profound political change in Portugal, shortly after the Carnation Revolution of 1974, which put an end to the Estado Novo regime. The organization established itself as an important player in mobilizing youth for political and social struggle, aligning itself with the principles of the PCP and promoting the construction of a more just and egalitarian society.

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Since its inception, JCP has been dedicated to causes such as defending workers’ rights, fighting against social inequalities and promoting quality education for all. JCP’s participation in the Avante Festival is a reflection of its commitment to these goals and to building a platform for political discussion and youth mobilization.

Communist youth builds the biggest political and cultural event in Portugal

The Avante Festival is held annually in the municipality of Seixal and serves as a meeting point for PCP and JCP activists and supporters, as well as a space for political and cultural education. The event is known for its extensive program, which includes political debates, concerts, cultural activities and social gatherings.

The Festival began to gain prominence in the 1980s, when the JCP intensified its involvement in organizing the event. Since then, the presence of communist youth has been significant, both in the design of the activities that make up the festival and in the organization of the event, always on the first weekend of September. The JCP contributes in several ways, such as in debates and workshops focused on topics of interest to young people, many of which are held at the Youth City, and in the coordination and general logistics of the event.

JCP present in all stages of preparation for the Festival

The JCP’s participation in the Avante Festival is of great importance for several reasons. First, it provides a platform for young people to actively engage with political and social issues, promoting civic engagement and political education. According to the JCP, through the festival, it promotes its ideas and attracts new members, presenting the youth as a vital force in the communist movement. An important band competition, for example, is held by the youth.

Furthermore, the JCP’s presence at the Avante Festival helps to revitalize the organization, allowing new generations of young people to connect with the JCP’s history and goals. The activities proposed by the communist youth reflect contemporary political concerns, such as the climate crisis and social inequalities, solidarity with the Palestinian people, and the defense of peace.

The history of the Portuguese Communist Youth and its participation in the Avante Festival demonstrates the importance of the activity as a space for training and youth engagement in politics and in the organization of events that promote discussion and mobilization. By getting involved in the construction of the Avante Festival, the JCP reaffirms its role as a pillar of communist youth in Portugal and as a vital force in the promotion of a progressive political agenda. After almost 50 years, the Festival continues to be an essential space for the encounter and articulation of ideas that shape the country’s political future.

Bilateral between the PCdoB and the PCP and JCP

During the Festival, the National Youth Commission of the Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB), represented by Tiago Alves, and the Secretary of International Relations, Ana Prestes, held a meeting with the member of the PCO secretariat responsible for work with youth, João Frazão and the members of the JCP: Gonçalo and Miguel.

During the dialogue, it was possible to discuss the experience of the two parties in conducting their work with the youth, through the JCP and the UJS, and the exchange between the Festa do Avante and the Festival Vermelho and the participation of the youth, the expectations regarding the future of the World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY). A rich moment of dialogue and mutual learning that strengthens the ties between the parties and their respective youth.

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(BL)