Protesters from various branches of the police force, border control guards, prison guards, ASAE workers, Maritime Police officers, and Judicial and Municipal police officers burst through a security cordon and stormed up the steps of Parliament in an evening of undeniable tension in Lisbon.
When the protestors broke through, those on duty guarding the parliament building against such incursions, stood aside.
Members of the feared riot police were called in but allowed this serious security breach to happen as many of the protestors were colleagues.
The protest was organised by the various trade unions representing uniformed security force employees and was against the planned cuts listed in the 2014 state budget.
According to the organisors about ten thousand members of the various police forces joined in the mass demonstration that started in Largo Camões and ended on the steps of parliament.
‘It's time for the Government to go' and ‘Policemen united will never be defeated" were among the chants from an increasingly angry crowd. The organisers said it was the largest demonstration of police forces ever seen in Portugal.
It was a few minutes before 21.00 on Thursday evening when the demonstrators managed to break through the police cordon on the stairs of the Assembly. Even before tempers flared many policemen were shouting ‘invasion.’ There were appeals for calm from union leaders but the riot police were summoned and despite their presence the protestors managed to barge through the barriers.
At the end of the meeting of the Council of Ministers, the Minister of Internal Affairs, Miguel Macedo, refused to make any comment beyond a terse "is an exercise of a right."
On Friday morning, Portugal's President made an appeal for calm, saying this is not an easy time for Portugal.
"In these circumstances my appeal can only be one: serenity, to remain calm at this time - which it is not easy for Portugal, depending as it does on creditors who watch us every day," said Cavaco Silva.
Friday - top cop sacked
The National Director of the PSP, Superintendent Paulo Gomes Valente, was asked to offer his resignation over this security failure. This was accepted by the Minister of Internal Affairs and a replacement has been appointed - Luís Farinha will succeed Superintendent Paul Gomes Valente
The president of the National Union of Police, Armando Ferreira, said today that the sacking was ‘inevitable’ after the events at the demonstration on Thursday.
Armando Ferreira said that from a personal standpoint he regrets the departure of Superintendent Paulo Gomes Valente, but "from the institutional point of view, it was something that was inevitable."
On the possibility of disciplinary proceedings following the events at the Assembly steps, Armando Ferreira said that if this happens it will be "an error, and very, very serious."
"At a time like this, and when we have seen the state of mind of the police forces, if a witch hunt is started this will been seen as a declaration war on public safety professionals, and this will certainly have consequences, and I hope that they do not make this mistake," said Ferreira adding that "the police gave a cry for help and clearly have demonstrated the desperate state in of their personal, professional and family lives.”
Superintendent Paulo Gomes Valente assumed the position of National Director of PSP in February 2012. Few from within the service will mourn his sacking as he was seen as indecisive to the point of inaction.
For the moment of the storming, see: http://www.publico.pt/multimedia/video/o-momento-em-que-os-policias-invadiram-a-escadaria-do-parlamento-20131121213820
