300,000 Protest in Portugal
John | 15.03.2011 19:19 | Public sector cuts | Social Struggles
Lisbon - Nearly 300,000 Portuguese protested in 11 Portuguese cities Saturday against high unemployment and poor living conditions.
The initiative was organized by young unemployed activists over the internet.
Organizers said that 200,000 people had responded to their call in the capital Lisbon, while another 80,000 turned out in Porto, in northern Portugal.
Police did not confirm the numbers, but offered no numbers of their own.
Demonstrations were aimed at an 'unjust distribution of wealth' in Portugal and the poor prospects for young people. Portugal is the poorest country in Western Europe.
On Friday, the socialist government of Prime Minister Jose Socrates announced further austerity measures in an attempt to restore trust in its financial solidity just before a key eurozone summit.
The measures included health, education and other social cuts and postponing infrastructure projects.
Pensions will be frozen in 2012 and an extra tax will be applied to pensions of more than 1,500 euros (2,070 dollars) a month.
The initiative was organized by young unemployed activists over the internet.
Organizers said that 200,000 people had responded to their call in the capital Lisbon, while another 80,000 turned out in Porto, in northern Portugal.
Police did not confirm the numbers, but offered no numbers of their own.
Demonstrations were aimed at an 'unjust distribution of wealth' in Portugal and the poor prospects for young people. Portugal is the poorest country in Western Europe.
On Friday, the socialist government of Prime Minister Jose Socrates announced further austerity measures in an attempt to restore trust in its financial solidity just before a key eurozone summit.
The measures included health, education and other social cuts and postponing infrastructure projects.
Pensions will be frozen in 2012 and an extra tax will be applied to pensions of more than 1,500 euros (2,070 dollars) a month.
John