PORTUGUESE: 23/11/2025

In the early evening of Saturday (22), the National Central Committee (NCC) of the Workers’ Cause Party (PCO) published an official note informing of the death of Natália Braga Costa Pimenta, a historic leader of the party. Her death had already been announced a few hours earlier, when the program Political Analysis of the Week, conducted by Rui Costa Pimenta, national president of the PCO and Natália’s father, was canceled due to the fatality. On Saturday, the course Brazil: a Marxist analysis of 500 years of history, which was to be taught by Rui Pimenta, was also scheduled to take place. Like the Political Analysis of the Week, the class was canceled.

Natália had been battling the consequences of breast cancer for three years. In early 2025, the revolutionary militant contracted brain cancer. More recently, as a result of chemotherapy treatment, Natália contracted a rare type of leukemia, which ended up being fatal for the companion.

Natália Pimenta leaves behind her spouse, her two children, her two brothers, her father and a legion of comrades, friends and admirers of her tireless work for the liberation of the working class.

In the official note published by the CCN, the PCO stressed that the international proletariat has lost “a great human being” with the death of Natália Pimenta and recalled the long and intense career of the leader, considered one of the central figures in the formation of the current generation of PCO militants. Her death comes after almost three decades of full dedication to the political and revolutionary struggle, which began as a child when she was just 12 years old.

According to the text, Natália entered revolutionary militancy during a particularly adverse period for the international left. The end of the Workers’ States in the Soviet Union and China, the international neoliberal offensive and the reflux of the workers’ movements created a scenario of isolation for the PCO. In these circumstances, its role was decisive in combating sectarianism on the left, a phenomenon that usually arises in times of political defensiveness. Alongside other militants, she helped lay the foundations that allowed the creation of the Revolutionary Youth Alliance (AJR), a milestone that the PCO points to as being responsible for the rejuvenation of its ranks. The party claims that a large part of its current cadres were formed thanks to Natália’s work.

For more than a decade, Natália led the PCO’s student front, consolidating its presence especially at the University of São Paulo (USP). She became an important leader in a series of university mobilizations and occupations and was even arrested during an action at the Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp). The note highlights that her work during this period was marked by the organizational rigour characteristic of her militancy, and by a unique ability to structure internal methods that today make up party discipline.

In addition to her organizational work, the party highlights her theoretical and political brilliance, describing her as a “fierce” polemicist, capable of sustaining complex debates in the workers’ movement. At the same time, she was recognized for her links with ongoing popular struggles, especially the Palestinian cause, for which she developed a deep commitment. Her commitment to this struggle resulted in her election to the vice-presidency of the Brazil-Palestine Institute (Ibraspal), recognition of her projection in this field.

The text prepared by the PCO leadership concludes by saying that, “today, one of the brightest stars of the communist struggle dies, but like every star, his light will shine for centuries after his departure”.

Read the official note from the PCO’s NCC in full:

Natália Braga Costa Pimenta (1985 – 2025)

Official note from the Workers’ Cause Party

On Saturday afternoon (22), the international proletariat lost a great human being: comrade Natália Pimenta passed away. Natália was a member of the National Central Committee of the Workers’ Cause Party.

She had an outstanding career in building our Party. It is possible to say, without any exaggeration, that she is largely responsible for the new generation of militants in our Party, who today make up the overwhelming majority of our ranks.

Natalia began her revolutionary work at the age of 12 and has dedicated 28 years to the liberation of the proletariat. At the time she began her work, the Party was going through a difficult phase due to the attacks of the neoliberal wave, the fall of the Workers’ States in the Soviet Union and China and the intense reflux in workers’ mobilization internationally.

Even in the face of the great isolation of our Party, Natália, along with other outstanding comrades, fought a hard battle against sectarianism, a common disease of difficult times, and created the conditions for the development of the Revolutionary Youth Alliance and a real rejuvenation of the Party, today the youngest party of all in Brazil.

She led the student front for more than a decade, being the Party’s key player at the University of São Paulo. She took part in several occupations in this movement, and was even arrested for one of them, which took place at Unifesp (Federal University of São Paulo).

She stood out for her organizational talent, where she was essential in establishing the current party discipline and its brilliant system of cells and recruitment. In theoretical and political matters, she was equally brilliant, being one of the revolutionary movement’s fiercest polemicists.

Natália had the ability to connect body and soul with the ongoing struggle and the yearnings of the masses. She became one of the most passionate defenders of the Palestinian people and the Palestinian resistance, cheering their victories and suffering their immense losses. Her struggle was recognized by the entire movement and she was elected vice-president of the Brazil Palestine Institute (IBRASPAL). While she was in hospital, she was included in the inquiry that is persecuting fighters for the Palestinian people.

She also leaves behind important political work on the issue of sovereignty, the defense of our Amazon and criticism of the absurd ideology of identity.

Natália was a party leader on the issue of women, but like Rosa Luxemburg, she was a woman leader with the ability to convince and coordinate both men and women, both students and workers, both young and old. She owned this imperious and daring will.

She left behind her husband, her two children, her two brothers and her father. They and all the party’s militants have today lost both a family member and an invaluable companion. Her legacy and her struggle will be carried on by them and by the entire militancy of our Party. The Party offers its most genuine condolences to all the family members, party comrades and friends of the comrade.

Today, one of the brightest stars of the communist struggle dies, but like every star, her light will shine for centuries after her departure.