Plans by Portugal’s largest trade union CGTP to hold a major demonstration on foot over the 25 de Abril Bridge in Lisbon on October 19 have had to be cancelled after the government prohibited the action “for safety and legal reasons”.
The Minister of Internal Affairs Miguel Macedo said entities in charge of security on the bridge, namely the PSP police and the Conselho de Segurança da Ponte, opposed the protest and the government “would not go against their technical opinion”.
Macedo said that it is not the intention of the government to prevent citizens from exercising their right to protest; however, it has a responsibility to ensure their safety if it believes safety conditions cannot be met.
“In 39 years of democracy, never before had a request for a demonstration on the 25 de Abril Bridge been put forward,” said the minister.
However, the CGTP leader Arménio Carlos said the protest against government austerity measures is still going ahead on the day, with demonstrators travelling over the bridge in more than 300 buses, carrying flags and horns to make themselves heard. Protesters will then gather in the Alcântara area of Lisbon.
Arménio Carlos questioned why the Lisbon Half-Marathon, which takes place over the 25 de Abril Bridge every year, does not pose a risk to citizens and why minister Miguel Macedo had suggested the protest took place over the Vasco da Gama Bridge, in what appears to be a contradictory position. He accused the government of trying to block the protest for political reasons.
