Portuguese Marxist–Leninist Committee

A Portuguese Marxist-Leninist organization that was founded in 1964 in Paris shortly after the founding of the Popular Action Front (FAP), following the rupture and expulsion of Francisco Martins Rodrigues from the PCP - these mark the beginning of Maoist and Marxist-Leninist organizations in Portugal.

Complementary to the unitary front constituted in the FAP, the CMLP intended to be the embryo of a future reconstructed communist party, publishing the organ “Popular Revolution”.

In 1965, the FAP/CMLP was affected by several arrests, including that of João Pulido Valente, resulting from an infiltration by PIDE secret police. PIDE undercover agent, Mário Mateus, will be executed in November of this year.

In 1966 Francisco Martins Rodrigues and Rui d’Espiney were arrested and the waves of repression weakened the FAP/CMLP, whose youth organization was the Union of Marxist-Leninist Communist Students [UEC (m-l)].

In 1968, what remained of the CMLP leadership gave rise to the newspaper O Comunista, with 14 issues published, closer to the Trotskyists, among which was Maria Albertina's group, led by the former communist and future PSD deputy, Silva Marques.

The FAP ended up being extinguished, with only the CMLP remaining in activity, which in 1970, at the V Congress (reconstitutive) of the communist party, transformed into the Communist Party of Portugal (Marxist–Leninist) [PCP (m-l)], although it was only in 1971 that the fact was made public. The PCP (m-l) will develop an important role in emigration, particularly in France.

In 1975, PTP(m-l) splinter faction, the Popular Unity Party retook the name CM-LP months before forming the Portuguese Communist Party (Reconstructed) [PCP(R)].

Founder: Francisco Martins Rodrigues