Revolutionary Socialist Party (Portugal)

The Revolutionary Socialist Party (Portuguese: Partido Socialista Revolucionário, pronounced [pɐɾˈtiðu susiɐˈliʃtɐ ʁɨvulusiuˈnaɾiu], or PSR) was a left-wing party in Portugal, founded in 1978 after the merger of two Trotskyist parties: the Internationalist Communist League (Portuguese: Liga Comunista Internacionalista LCI) and the Workers Revolutionary Party (Portuguese: Partido Revolucionário dos Trabalhadores, PRT).[1] The LCI and PRT were both part of the reunified Fourth International. The International recognised the PSR as its Portuguese section.

Revolutionary Socialist Party
Partido Socialista Revolucionário
LeaderFrancisco Louçã
Founded1978 (1978)
Dissolved1999 (1999) (as party)
2013 (2013) (as association)
Merger ofInternationalist Communist League
Workers Revolutionary Party
Succeeded byLeft Bloc
HeadquartersRua da Palma, 268
110-394 Lisbon
NewspaperCombate Operário
Revista Combate
IdeologyTrotskyism
Socialist feminism
Political positionLeft-wing
International affiliationFourth International
ColoursMaroon
Party flag

In 1998 Party renamed itself in order to join with some other left-wing parties in founding the Left Bloc (Bloco de Esquerda or BE). The organisation retained the acronym (PSR) and became a civil society organisation under the name Revolutionary Socialist Political Association (Associação Política Socialista Revolucionária (APSR)). The original party, a member of the Fourth International, was however officially dissolved in 2008.[2]

The historical leader of the PSR is Francisco Louçã,[3] who would become leader of the Left Bloc.

The party had never achieved parliamentary representation before the merger in the Left Bloc, although it may be considered the 3rd or 4th biggest left-wing party in the country.

History

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1970s

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In 1979, the Party ran in a legislative election for the first time, achieving 0.6% of the voting.The next year, another legislative election took place and the Party achieved 1.0% of the votes.

1980s

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In 1983, the Party ran in the legislative election in coalition with the People's Democratic Union (Portuguese: União Democrática Popular or UDP) in some constituencies, receiving 0.4% in those constituencies and 0.2% in the others.

In 1985, after some splits, the Party gained a new life, mainly due to its anti-militaristic and anti-racist campaigns and in that year's election, the PSR got 0.6% of the vote. In 1987, the Party contested the first European Election held in Portugal, achieving 0.5%, and in the legislative election, achieving 0.51%.[4]

Also in 1987, the Party started publishing of the Combate (Struggle) monthly newspaper.[5]

At the elections for the European Parliament of 1989, the PSR received 0.8%.

1990s

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In the legislative election of 1991 got 1.12%, the best result in the Party's history,[6] ran for the last time in an election in 1995, achieving 0.6%.[7]

Merging into Left Bloc

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In 1998, the party formed a permanent coalition with the People's Democratic Union, the Politics XXI and the Left Revolutionary Front, creating the Bloco de Esquerda (Left Bloc).[8] In 2005, in the last congress in the party's history, it changed its status from a party to a political "association", which disappeared in 2013.[9]

Electoral results

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Assembly of the Republic

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Election Leader Votes % Seats +/- Government
1979 36,978 0.6 (#9)
0 / 250
No seats
1980 60,496 1.0 (#8)
0 / 250
 0 No seats
1983 with UDP
0 / 250
 0 No seats
1985 35,238 0.6 (#8)
0 / 250
 0 No seats
1987 Francisco Louçã 32,977 0.6 (#7)
0 / 250
 0 No seats
1991 64,159 1.1 (#6)
0 / 230
 0 No seats
1995 37,638 0.6 (#6)
0 / 230
 0 No seats

European Parliament

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Election Leader Votes % Seats +/-
1987 29,909 0.5 (#9)
0 / 24
1989 31,775 0.8 (#8)
0 / 24
 0
1994 Helena Lopes da Silva 17,780 0.6 (#7)
0 / 25
 0

References

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  1. ^ de Mesquita, Henrique Pinto (2022-02-02). "Os partidos que já se foram e não voltam mais". Jornal SOL (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  2. ^ "Partido Socialista Revolucionário | Comissão Nacional de Eleições". www.cne.pt. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  3. ^ "Congresso do PSR" (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  4. ^ "1987 parliamentary election results" (PDF). diariodarepublica.
  5. ^ "Comunicado n.º 1: Combate / Partido Socialista Revolucionário (PSR) - AHS". www.ahsocial.ics.ulisboa.pt. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  6. ^ "Os partidos que já se foram e não voltam mais". Jornal SOL (in European Portuguese). 2022-02-02. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  7. ^ "Portugal | Political Data from PDYi | Elections, governments and ministries". politicaldatayearbook.com. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  8. ^ "Coalition: official document" (PDF). CNE.
  9. ^ Lusa (2013-03-25). "PSR aprova extinção e adesão a nova corrente política do BE". PÚBLICO (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-01-06.
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