Avante!

Avante! [ a'vɒtə ] to German forward! , is the official newspaper of the Portuguese Communist Party ( PCP). It first appeared in 1931, the motto of the newspaper workers of all countries unite!.

The newspaper initially appeared irregularly, only since the Carnation Revolution in 1974, the Avante appears! week and had great influence in the early years generally to the Portuguese workers. In recent years, however, this influence waned, a greater role of the Avante! even in southern Portugal, especially in Lisbon, Setúbal and Alentejo.

History

The Avante! first appeared on 15 February 1931 as a call to the Portuguese proletariat join the Communist Party. Nevertheless, the newspaper appeared only irregularly, the Portuguese fascist authorities disabilities significantly the pressure, so that the Avante! had to be printed in unknown, secret places. The authorities prosecuted those responsible and responded with raids and arrests on each new issue appears.

Following the comprehensive reorganization of the Communist Party in August 1941 the newspaper appeared at least once a month. Now the editors could also expect more letters from the other parts of the country and, in turn, report -coverage of events in total Portugal. In the forties, the Avante was! one of the few newspapers that was not affected by the official censorship, so it the role of the Nazis and the Allies could report independently on the Second World War.

In the early fifties, strengthened the dictatorship of Salazar regide the action against the Communists. Supported by the Western Allies in NATO, it was able to continue the dictatorship with no problems, many Communist Party members, such as Álvaro Cunhal were detained. The Avante! documented at this time the fascist approach and supported, for example, in the 1958 presidential election the opposition candidate Humberto Delgado, but could not win because of massive vote-rigging by the authorities.

As of 1961 shook the colonial wars Portugal, first began in the colony of Angola and train spread to train and to Mozambique and Guinea- Bissau. The Avante! presented at this time for anti- colonialist voices is a platform to continue, she documented the protests against the fascist dictatorship, such as the Studentenaufruhen ( Crise Académica ). End of the sixties the detentions took for criticizing the regime too much, the Avante! solidarity with them and moved as an organ of PCP position.

After the abolition of the dictatorship with the Carnation Revolution in 1974 was on 17 May 1974, the first regular, free and legage edition of Avante! appear, the communists of the PCP participated at the time already at the first Provisional Government under Adelino da Palma Carlos. At the time reached the Avante! Maximum requirements.

In 1976 was the first time the Festa do Avante! at the Lisbon Exhibition Centre (FIL ), although the bundles numerous cultural events such as concerts, readings, etc.. Since then, it has been held annually until 1990 at different locations. Venues were next to the fairgrounds already Ajuda, Loures, among others Since the acquisition of the land of the " Quinta da Atalaia " in Amora (Seixal ) on the other side of the Tagus is the Festa place there.

In the eighties, the right-wing parties of Portugal won the elections and thus presented for the first time since the Carnation Revolution, the government and managed some of the respected as a socialist achievements laws of previous governments again. The Communist Party saw this policy as illegitimate and called in the Avante! to numerous strikes and demonstrations against the policies of Aníbal Cavaco Silva and Francisco Pinto Balsemão on.

With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the election results and the importance of the Communist Party fell generally, the numbers of the Avante! behaved similarly. Yet still form particularly the Lisbon area and the entire Alentejo the stronghold of the Communists, especially there enjoys the Avante! high sales figures. 2000 has seen many layout changes so that first appeared in the cover page of the newspaper in color. At the same time advised the Avante! an online presence, where the entire content of the newspaper is ready available. Nevertheless, the Avante appears! continued regularly every Thursday.