In much the same way as he flew the flag for Portugal’s homeless – succeeding in pushing through various reforms – President Marcelo has been highlighting “the social reality” of poverty here: it is not a “marginal situation”, he stresses, but one that affects almost two million people – over half of which are in full-time work.
Wednesday saw World Eradication of Poverty day, and it was not just President Marcelo speaking up for the iniquities in this country.
Jardim Moreira, president of EAPN, Portugal’s branch of Europe’s Anti-Poverty network, described the 1.1 million citizens who work but are still poor, stressing the situation is “structural” and needs across the board intervention by “several ministers”.
Better education will be key, Moreira agrees, but “the truth is we continue with 18.3% of people on low wages and 23.3% marginalised”.
There have been “improvements of a global nature”, he agreed. “But they are still not satisfactory”.
natasha.donn@algarveresident.com
