PCC was formed in April 1982 by the pro-Soviet faction of the Unified Socialist Party of Catalonia (PSUC).

The formation of PCC was the peak of a long and intense struggle within PSUC between the pro-Soviet and Eurocommunist sections of the party.

The pro-Soviet section was often nicknamed 'Afghans' due to their support of the Soviet line of the war in Afghanistan.

In 1987 PCC took part in the formation of Initiative for Catalonia (IC), a broad coalition of leftwing parties led by PSUC.

In the 1993 elections, it contested on IC lists as part of the electoral coalition of IC-Greens.