Thousands Protests against government in Portugal
Lisbon: thousands of people took to the streets of Lisbon and other Portuguese cities to protest against the government’s austerity measures aimed at rescuing the debt-hit euro zone nation.
Finance Minister Vitor Gaspar has said the economy is expected to contract around two percent this year, double an earlier forecast.
The organizers of on Saturday’s march are galvanized by their opposition to the so-called troika of public creditors — the European Union, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund — who bailed out Portugal.
“This demonstration is a clear sign that ‘the troika’ and the government are not wanted in this country,” said Joao Semedo, the leader of a far-left bloc.
The march included groups of teachers, healthcare workers and pensioners who have been especially hard hit by the budget cuts.
After cutting salaries and pension benefits in 2012, the government this year has declared a general tax increase and expects to impose further cuts of some four billion euros.
