Around 3,000 members of the PSP and GNR, according to the organization’s figures, are gathering today in Praça do Comércio, Lisbon, for better pay conditions, demanding a subsidy identical to that given to the Judicial Police.
The sit-in, in front of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, coincides with today’s debate between the leaders of the PS, Pedro Nuno Santos, and the PSD, Luís Montenegro, on early elections on March 10.
Speaking to Lusa, the president of the Association of Guard Professionals (APG/GNR), César Nogueira, said that holding the rally on the day of the debate between Portugal’s two likely future prime ministers “is no coincidence”.
The aim is for the problem of the security forces to be discussed and put on the agenda.
César Nogueira also said that the members of the security forces will not stop protesting until they are given a mission supplement identical to that of the PJ, anticipating that the first months of the next government will be very contentious.
Bruno Pereira, spokesman for the platform that brings together PSP unions and GNR associations, told Lusa that the choice of Praça do Comércio for the sit-in was also related to the symbolism of the location, which houses the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Members of the PSP and GNR have been protesting for over a month to demand a supplement identical to the one given to the PJ.
Today’s rally comes after the platform organized demonstrations in Lisbon and Porto, which brought together thousands of security forces and were considered the largest ever, and vigils at Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Ponta Delgada and Funchal airports, as well as Lisbon’s seaport.
According to the platform, around 3,000 police officers were gathered at 6:30 p.m., but more PSP and GNR officers are still expected at the gathering, where many of the demonstrators are wearing black shirts, some Portuguese flags and two large banners reading “Polícia Unida” (United Police) are still visible.
