UNISONActive is an unofficial blog produced by UNISON activists for UNISON activists. Bringing news, briefings and events from a progressive left perspective.

Sunday 3 March 2013

Portugal rises against austerity

Hundreds of thousands of people protested yesterday in cities across Portugal against government austerity measures which have driven unemployment up to more than 20%."This government has left the people on bread and water, selling off state assets for peanuts to pay back debts that were contracted by corrupt politicians to benefit bankers," film director Fabio Carvalho, who was among the protesters in Lisbon, was quoted as saying by Reuters. "If not today, things have to change tomorrow and we need to remain in the streets for the government to fall."http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21643853

Protesters demanded the resignation of the Government and carried placards condemning the "Troika" of the IMF, the European Commission and the European Central Bank, which demanded budget cuts in return for a financial bailout:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwXkqHRkUpk