On October 29, 2026, police officers from the PSP and military personnel from the GNR took to the streets of Lisbon to demand better salaries, career advancement, and improved working conditions. The national manifestation, which began at 17:30 at Largo do Carmo and ended near the Prime Minister's residence, was organized by the ASPP and APG unions. This protest marks the culmination of several demonstrations held in different cities across the country since September.
According to Paulo Santos, president of the ASPP, the main objective of the manifestation is to pressure the government to respond to the key demands of PSP and GNR members. These demands include salary increases, career revision, and improvements in working conditions. Santos emphasized that these demands were part of an agreement signed with the government in 2024, but have yet to be implemented over two years later.
The president of the ASPP further stated that during ongoing negotiations with the government, only ideas and experiences were presented, but no concrete proposals were made. César Nogueira, president of the APG, also expressed his support for the protest, stating that it is essential for the elements of the security forces to take to the streets while negotiations are ongoing, as the government has not presented any concrete proposals regarding the signed agreement.
César Nogueira highlighted that the situation is unsustainable, with guards losing over 200 euros per month due to the outdated remuneration statute. He emphasized that the elements of the GNR and PSP feel the need to take to the streets to express their discontent and demotivation. The manifestation ended near the Prime Minister's residence, as Luís Montenegro is responsible for the government, and the Minister of Internal Administration lacks the political capacity to expedite the process.
As part of the ongoing negotiation process, technical meetings are being held at the Ministry of Finance between the PSP unions and GNR associations with the Secretaries of State for Adjunct and Internal Administration and Public Administration. A meeting with the Minister of Internal Administration is scheduled for November.
When asked if they considered changing the date of the manifestation after the various police interventions in the housing right demonstrations in Lisbon and Porto, the president of the ASPP stated that an evaluation was made, but the protest was already scheduled. Paulo Santos expressed concern about the housing issue, which also affects police officers, but emphasized that the themes should not be mixed, as they represent a union.
The protest was covered by RecordTV Cabo Verde, and the unions are seeking a resolution to their demands through dialogue with the government. The situation remains to be seen as the negotiations continue, and it is essential to monitor the developments in the coming days.
Key points
- Police and military in Portugal are demanding better salaries, career advancement, and improved working conditions.
- The manifestation was organized by the ASPP and APG unions and marks the culmination of several demonstrations held in different cities across the country since September.
- The negotiations between the unions and the government are ongoing, with technical meetings being held at the Ministry of Finance.
