PORTUGAL: Thousands of people take to the streets of the Portuguese capital in a protest against the economic crisis

Record ID: 862371

  • Title: PORTUGAL: Thousands of people take to the streets of the Portuguese capital in a protest against the economic crisis
  • Date: 14th March 2009
  • Summary: YOUNG WOMAN PROTESTER CARRYING A BABY IN HER ARMS
  • Embargoed: 29th March 2009 13:00
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  • Location: Portugal
  • City:
  • Country: Portugal
  • Topics: Economic News
  • Reuters ID: LVA9RP0FCQM6XK2L4K2H2A3SXAQ0
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  • Story Text: Thousands of people marched through the streets of Lisbon on Friday (March 13) to protest against their government's handling of the current economic crisis.
    The protest march was organised by the General Confederation of Portuguese Workers (CGTP) one of Portugal's largest labour unions. The organisers had said they expected 100,000 people and later told local media that 200,000 people had attended the event, but the police did not provide any estimates.
    The protest brought together unemployed and retired people as well as workers from the public and private sectors who criticised Prime Minister Jose Socrates' economic policy and demanded more opportunities for the unemployed, better wages for workers and more rights for the retired.
    Carvalho da Silva, head of the CGTP, explained the reasons of this protest:
    "In the first place, to create solidarity within Portuguese society and a commitment from the institutions and powers, so that solidarity with the more fragile, the unemployed is kept. Second, a great demonstration of indignation because we have made sacrifices without results for the development of the country and, in the third place, we want to leave a message of hope and confidence, and proposals to solve the problems," he said.
    Claudia Pereira, a young mother carrying her son in her arms, said she joined the demonstration to protest against the loss of workers' rights.

    "I'm here because workers are losing their rights. They have lost with the new labour law and I think we should all fight so our rights are not stolen as they have been until today," she said.
    Portugal's economy entered recession in the last quarter of 2008, shrinking 1.6 percent compared to the previous quarter. According to the latest data, the country has an unemployment rate of 7.8 percent.
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