PORTUGAL’S communists reaffirmed their refusal to enter government with the centre-left Socialist Party (PS) yesterday, as the latest polls forecast a victory for the conservative coalition in tomorrow’s general election.

The PS is currently polling at 33 per cent, four points behind the Portugal Ahead (PaF) coalition of the conservative Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the Christian Democrats of the CDS-PP.

Speaking exclusively to the Star, Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) former parliamentary leader Bernardino Soares said the refusal was not simply a point of principle but also common sense.

Mr Soares pointed out that on the matter of the European Union, labour legislation, workers’ rights and public control of strategic economic sectors, “that is to say, privatisations,” the Socialists have willingly co-operated with the PSD and CDS-PP.

For that reason, while the institutional relationship was “normal” and the parties spoke to each other on several issues, forming government with PS would not be possible, he said.

The PCP central committee member explained: “We can’t just say if we all get together, we get a majority.

“We need to know what to do with that majority and PS is not giving any signs of distancing itself from the right on the main issues.

“If it is to make positive policies, we shall be there, but if it is to keep what is bad or worse, they cannot count us in.

“People would not forgive the PCP if we did what others have done — say one thing when in opposition and then sell those principles for any given seat in government.

“We won’t do that.”