Portugal was about to start its first weekend of curfew and Porto was the scene of clashes between police officers and professionals in the restaurant, hotel and nightlife sectors, as the latter protested against the anti-covid measures put in place by the government. Throwing bottles at the police, setting fire to the coffin to symbolize their death, arrest: the clashes were not easy, a sign that anger is also brewing in Portugal. Lisbob, the expatriate assistant, tells you all about these clashes between police officers and restaurateurs in Porto against anti-covid measures.
Clashes between owners and police against anti-covid measures in Porto
A demonstration took place this Friday in Porto, organized by restaurateurs, hoteliers and night professionals. It was marked by clashes between demonstrators and PSP Police officers who were at the scene.
The demonstration brought together more than a thousand owners and workers of restaurants, hotels and nightclubs who are against the restrictive measures imposed by the Portuguese government for the weekend (closing at 1 p.m.).
A spokesperson for the "A Pão e Água" movement said the violence committed during the demonstration was a reflection of the "desperation" in which professionals from the restaurant, hotel and nightlife sectors meet. "This contempt is a clear example of the state of despair people find themselves in right now," said Miguel Camões, spokesperson for the "A Pão e Água" movement.
This demonstration, which began around 4 p.m., ended in clashes with the police who controlled it. In addition to throwing bottles at elements of the security forces, the demonstrators set fire to coffins (symbolizing the death of the area), forcing the police to intervene and arrest a protester.
Following the rise in new cases of covid-19, the Portuguese government has adopted a set of restrictive measures for the most affected municipalities. For example, in 191 municipalities in Portugal, restaurants can only receive customers until 1 p.m. on weekends. The rest of the day, they can only serve take out.
