Soldiers Protest in Portugal

Service men and women in Portugal have staged a protest against severe pay cuts for the military. The soldiers, many of whom are retired, organized in Lisbon to show their objection to the large cuts. These reductions both in pay and in numbers, one result of the current bailout, have met a strong backlash from soldiers; however, following Portuguese law, the protesters refrain from shouting slogans or wearing their uniforms during the demonstration.

In Portugal, the military holds a particularly important place in the view of many people, since it was the group that staged a coup against the old dictatorship and introduced democracy, only 37 years ago. Though one former serviceman suggested that the proposed cuts will lead to yet another coup, this claim has been generally dismissed as a radical and unlikely view, especially since the military has since tended to stay out of politics. However, the solidarity and determination among the protesting soldiers has not gone unnoticed and will probably not let up anytime soon.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15709836

Maci Mitchell