LISBON, Portugal – More than 14,000 people have signed an online petition calling on Portugal’s president to resign after he complained about a drop in his income due to austerity measures, even though his earnings are around 11 times that of the average Portuguese.
Portugal has enacted pay and pension cuts as part of a €78 billion ($101 billion) bailout deal it took last year.
President Anibal Cavaco Silva, 71 and in his final term, said last week he will find it hard to live on his expected pension.
Cavaco Silva has declared income of more than €10,000 a month, as well as investments. Portugal’s average monthly salary is about €900.
The comments by the president — a mostly ceremonial position — triggered an outcry. Critics also planned a mock donation campaign Tuesday under the slogan “A coin for Cavaco.”
