Military joins anti-austerity protests in Portugal
- 11 years ago
ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION)
STORY: Thousands of members of Portugal's military, retired and active, and their relatives gathered on Saturday in the capital Lisbon to protest protest against the austerity measures of the 2013 Budget.
Facing a higher tax rate on income, property and medical care, José Paulo Leitão, a sergeant in the Portuguese military, says it doesn't make any sense.
Higher taxes and less salary are not the only issues they are raising.
They are also calling for better equipment and training.
The government of Prime Minister Passos Coelho can no longer count on the broad consensus behind austerity that existed during the first year of the bailout that had set Portugal apart from countries like Greece.
That changed at the end of summer when the government proposed a hike in social security contributions, prompting the first mass protests in Portugal in years.
STORY: Thousands of members of Portugal's military, retired and active, and their relatives gathered on Saturday in the capital Lisbon to protest protest against the austerity measures of the 2013 Budget.
Facing a higher tax rate on income, property and medical care, José Paulo Leitão, a sergeant in the Portuguese military, says it doesn't make any sense.
Higher taxes and less salary are not the only issues they are raising.
They are also calling for better equipment and training.
The government of Prime Minister Passos Coelho can no longer count on the broad consensus behind austerity that existed during the first year of the bailout that had set Portugal apart from countries like Greece.
That changed at the end of summer when the government proposed a hike in social security contributions, prompting the first mass protests in Portugal in years.