Hundreds of Portuguese gathered in front of the presidential palace in Lisbon on Monday in protest against the troika and the government's implementation of tough austerity measures.

During the demonstration organized by the "screw the troika" movement, the protesters shouting slogans opposing the troika comprising the European Union, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund and the Portuguese government which has been carrying out harsh austerity measures to win the bailout from the international lenders.

"Due to the implementation of the austerity measures many young people like me have lost their jobs and many of them have to go to France and Germany to make their living," said a 27-year-old woman identifying herself as Maria.

She hopes that the government will end the austerity measures as soon as possible and create more employment opportunities for the jobless youths like her.

While the Portuguese are demonstrating outside the presidential palace, the State Council meeting is being held inside it with President Anibal Cavaco Silva, Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho, Parliament President Assuncao Esteves and Secretary General of the largest opposition Socialist Party Antonio Seguro as well as other members discussing prospects of the heavily indebted country's economy in the post troika era.

Under a 78-billion-euro (about 101 billion U.S. dollars) bailout agreement with the troika in May 2011 the Portuguese government has been implementing a harsh austerity policy which has been blamed for its deepening recession and triggered widespread protest across the country in recent months. Enditem

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