German chancellor to visit Portugal monday

German Chancellor Angela Merkel will visit Portugal on Monday for talks with Portuguese officials. Merkel’s visit comes before the Portuguese are set to stage a general strike with huge numbers of participants on Wednesday. She will also be greeted with protests which were planned long before she sets foot on the country. The German Chancellor is also expected to announce 100 internship scholarships for Portuguese graduates in Germany in an attempt to promote bilateral relationships. Last Saturday, thousands of Portuguese soldiers joined demonstrations against austerity moves in this country on the frontline of the eurozone crisis. An estimated 10,000 members of the military, ranging across all ranks, protested against the “unjustified cutbacks,” rallying at Restauradores square in the center of the capital city and calling for President Anibal Cavaco Silva to veto the controversial austerity budget adopted by the center-right government.