It was the final straw for some in Portugal.<br /><br />As parliament passed the 2014 budget on Tuesday, paving the way for more cuts, austerity-weary trade unionists occupied four government ministries for several hours in protest.<br /><br />Public sector workers are set to face salary cuts of up to 12 percent as well as reductions to their pensions.<br /><br />“I am nearing retirement and, after 40 years of working, I don’t think I will have enough of a pension to live on. It’s really borderline,” said one elderly woman.<br /><br />Some marched to parliament, denouncing what will be a third straight year of austerity. The government says cuts are “inevitable” as it struggles to reduce the deficit but many on the sharp end are not convinced.<br /><br />“They drive people to despair, suicide and starvation,” said another elderly woman. “It can’t go on like this. This is not what the people wanted.”<br /><br />The opposition has vowed to challenge some measures in the Constitutional Court. But the ruling centre-right coalition is determined to satisfy Portugal’s international lenders and avoid having to ask for a second bailout.<br /><br />Even in the parliament’s public gallery, though, some put up a protest. A small group chanted “Resign! Resign!” as the finance minister spoke. They were removed from the chamber.
