国产热热热精品,亚洲视频久久】日韩,三级婷婷在线久久,99人妻精品视频,精品九热人人肉肉在线,AV东京热一区二区,91po在线视频观看,久久激情宗合,青青草黄色手机视频

World / Europe

Disabled protest in Spain over austerity measures

(Agencies) Updated: 2012-12-03 02:47

MADRID - Thousands of disabled people and their families marched in Madrid on Sunday against benefit cuts, joining Spain's swelling protest movement over austerity measures.

Many were in wheelchairs. They carried signs saying "SOS" and chanted "Disabled people, abandoned" as they made their way through the centre of the capital.

Disabled protest in Spain over austerity measures

People in wheelchairs take part in a rally against government cutbacks for disabled people in Madrid Dec 2, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

The ruling centre-right government has introduced more than 60 billion euros' ($78 billion) worth of spending cuts since it took power at the end of last year, which have reduced payouts to Spain's four million disabled people.

"This is a historic day. Disabled people have never taken to the streets before. We're out here now and we're not going back," said Luis Cayo, president of Spain's Committee of Representatives of People with Disabilities.

Protests are held almost daily. Groups including teachers, miners, health workers and students have organised demonstrations against austerity, sometimes attracting hundreds of thousands of people.

Healthcare workers in Madrid went on strike for two days last week and some doctors in the region are on strike for an undefined period.

"The cuts are condemning us to social exclusion. This isn't the only thing we need to do but it's a good start," said Monica, 39, who was in a wheelchair and had travelled to Madrid from the northern region of Galicia to attend the protest.

The government is struggling to meet deficit targets and to try to stave off a bailout. Spain received up to 100 billion euros in aid for its stricken financial sector in June.

Matilde Gomez, who is blind, said disabled people should not be last in line for help. "We are willing to take some cuts but not to this extent," she said.

Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said in an interview published on Sunday he could not rule out more cuts. He admitted reaching a European Union-agreed deficit target of 6.3 percent would be difficult, even with the announced cuts.

"The people have to fight and today we have been united," said Maria Agudo, 60, pushing a woman in a wheelchair.

"I don't know if it's going to change anything, but at least it might weigh on their conscience."

A survey published on Sunday showed 85 percent of Spaniards have little or no faith in Rajoy, whose government reneged on a campaign promise on Friday when it said it would no longer raise pensions in line with inflation.

(Additional reporting by Silvio Castellanos; Writing by Clare Kane; Editing by Andrew Roche)

Trudeau visits Sina Weibo
May gets little gasp as EU extends deadline for sufficient progress in Brexit talks
Ethiopian FM urges strengthened Ethiopia-China ties
Yemen's ex-president Saleh, relatives killed by Houthis
Most Popular
Hot Topics

...
沅江市| 麻栗坡县| 宜州市| 尼勒克县| 米脂县| 宜君县| 东平县| 南京市| 长子县| 红原县| 东山县| 台北县| 平顶山市| 九台市| 清涧县| 枣庄市| 凌源市| 德格县| 哈尔滨市| 洛浦县| 宁国市| 洛扎县| 奉化市| 成都市| 扎鲁特旗| 清新县| 长治市| 平舆县| 石泉县| 阿鲁科尔沁旗| 即墨市| 昆明市| 客服| 呼玛县| 丹棱县| 新和县| 兴安盟| 桐乡市| 郯城县| 封开县| 井研县|