Portuguese protest against govt austerity measures

Demonstrators shout during a protest organized by General Confederation of the Portuguese Workers (CGTP) union in Lisbon Feb 27, 2014. The CGTP union called for a protest against austerity measures taken by the Portuguese government. The banner reads, "For Work, Wages and Rights, Against unemployment". [Photo/Agencies]

LISBON - Demonstrations have been staged in the capital and other Portuguese cities over the debt-laden country's austerity measures.

The General Confederation of the Portuguese Workers, which organized Thursday night's demonstrations, called for the Portuguese people to demand higher wages and improved health care, education and social security services.

In Lisbon, setting off from the ministries of solidarity, employment and social security, education and science, and health, some 1,000 demonstrators converged in Marques Pombal Square and marched towards the Prime Minister's Residence. Raising high placards and torches, they chanted slogans and called for the government to step down.

Similar protests were held in the second largest city, Porto, in the north, and Leiria in the central part of the country.

Under a 78-billion-euro ($107-billion) bailout agreement with the International Monetary Fund, European Commission and European Central Bank agreed in May 2011, Portugal has had to implement tough measures, which have been blamed for a deepening recession and sparked strong discontent among the general public.

The Portuguese government is confident the country will be able to exit the bailout program in June this year as scheduled after an early sign of economic recovery emerged in the second half of last year. However, it is not yet known whether the government will need precautionary loans after the exit.