Clashes over austerity in Portugal
- 12 years ago
ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION)
STORY: Dozens of demonstrators from the 15 October movement clashed with police in central Lisbon Thursday after they headed to parliament to protest against austerity measures on a strike day called by the CGTP Union.
An hour earlier labor union members of the CGTP and their supporters had set out from the central Rossio Square to march towards parliament. No incidents were reported on that march.
The strike kicked off at midnight. The union could not say how many of its members had responded to the strike call, but said the country's railway transport was crippled, including the international Lisbon-Madrid route. Lisbon's underground was shut at midnight. Many hospitals were only accepting emergencies.
The union also said rubbish collectors, ports and some schools had shut down across the country.
There was little evidence of participation in the private sector and flag carrier airline TAP was flying, whilst Lisbon airport functioned as normal.
The Portuguese have so far shown little inclination for the kind of frequent and violent protests seen in Greece.
STORY: Dozens of demonstrators from the 15 October movement clashed with police in central Lisbon Thursday after they headed to parliament to protest against austerity measures on a strike day called by the CGTP Union.
An hour earlier labor union members of the CGTP and their supporters had set out from the central Rossio Square to march towards parliament. No incidents were reported on that march.
The strike kicked off at midnight. The union could not say how many of its members had responded to the strike call, but said the country's railway transport was crippled, including the international Lisbon-Madrid route. Lisbon's underground was shut at midnight. Many hospitals were only accepting emergencies.
The union also said rubbish collectors, ports and some schools had shut down across the country.
There was little evidence of participation in the private sector and flag carrier airline TAP was flying, whilst Lisbon airport functioned as normal.
The Portuguese have so far shown little inclination for the kind of frequent and violent protests seen in Greece.