Boycott ended in Lisbon

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33858, 2 June 1975, Page 13

Boycott ended in Lisbon

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

LISBON, June 1.

The Portuguese Socialist Party has ended its boycott of the coalition Government after winning concessions from military leaders in its battle to curb Communist influence.

After a four-hour meeting with the Supreme Military Revolutionary Council, which has powers to override the Government, Socialist leaders said that they had reached general agreement on all the points the party had presented. Dr Marcelo Curto, one of the Socialists taking part, told N.Z.P.A.-Reuter that all differences between the party and the Revolutionary Council had been settled and he was very satisfied with the results. A Presidential communique said the Revolutionary Council pledged to correct some distortions in the present political process. This was seen as an indication that the Socialists had made headway in persuading the Armed Forces to act against the Communists’ present dominance of the trade unions, news media and local administration.

Both sides agreed that "democratic activity" ought to be reinforced, and the Revolutionary Council undertook to safeguard the normal functioning of the Constituent Assembly. This was a blow to .Communist suggestions that the existence of the assembly might not be justified in view of the present tense situation.

The Socialist Party won a big majority over the Communists in elections for the assembly last month, and hopes to make this superiority felt once the 250 deputies start meeting next Monday. The communique made no mention of the rebuke which the Armed Forces Movement assembly last Monday ordered the Revolutionary Council to deliver to the Socialists because of their Government boycott.

The latest development in the crisis between the Communists and Socialists, partners in the Government with the armed forces and the Centre-Left Popular Democrats, came after a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation summit meeting at which Western leaders expressed continuing concern over Communist influence in Portugal.