Unemployed Portuguese told to ‘just emigrate’

Unemployed Portuguese told to ‘just emigrate’

A wave of indignation was triggered when Passos Coelho, in the face of the growing unemployment that is hitting young people and educators extremely hard, suggested to teachers on December 18 that as an alternative they could move to Portuguese-speaking countries like Brazil or Angola. 

The next day, several ministers applauded the prime minister’s remarks, saying his suggestion was a valid solution, especially for teachers.

But the governments of Angola and Brazil quickly responded, saying they had no immediate need for teachers.

Portugal’s leaders “are becoming a laughing stock, starting with the prime minister, when he suggested that emigration was a way to deal with the crisis,” said a December 20 editorial in Publico.

If skilled workers and professionals continue to leave, the situation in this country “will be even more miserable”, and “the government’s incredible message leaves floating in the air the idea that Portugal is not worth it,” the editorial added.