Just as presidential candidate Luís Marques Mendes predicted, the social unrest prompted by the scheduling of a general strike next week is starting to bite.
Now, the ASPP/PSP (Police Professionals’ Union) has announced a rally outside the Prime Minister’s residence on the day of the general strike and ‘meetings’ at airports on December 18, stressing the possibility of further protests in January if the government “does nothing to change”.
The ‘meetings’ at the airport have been timed to coincide with the arrival of most international flights (they will take place between 7 – 11 am) – assuring that the ‘chaos’ that has characterised the airport and continues to embarrass the government will amplify.
Yes, one can say: “It’s only a day” – but it is a day just before Christmas when many people will be travelling. It will be noticed.
After abandoning negotiations with the government last Friday, ASPP/PSP convened yesterday to decide on protest measures announcing them in good time for the evening news.
“At the beginning of January 2026 we will take stock and if the government does not change anything, we will move forward with more protests” and on a larger scale, ASPP president Paulo Santos warned.
As part of ongoing negotiations, the Ministry of Internal Administration has scheduled a meeting with the police unions for December 12 – but according to Paulo Santos, ASPP will only attend if it receives a proposal that meets the commitments made in the agreement signed in July 2024, which the government has not been seen to honour.
“It has to be a complete and concrete proposal regarding salaries, supplements, which haven’t been reviewed since 2009, and an evaluation decree,” he said, blaming the government for “breaking its word regarding the agreement.”
Source material: LUSA
