国际英语新闻:Hundreds of Portuguese lawyers protest new law outside parliament

LISBON, July 15 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of lawyers crowded outside Portugal's parliament building in capital Lisbon on Tuesday to protest against a new law which will lead to the closure of at least 230 judicial courts.

"We are here to protest against the new judicial map, which will eliminate courts in the interior (of the country) and force people to have to travel a long way to get to a court," said Rui Ignacio, 54, a lawyer. "I have little hope in this majority government."

Another lawyer, Ines Pereira, 38, said: "The new law will not only lead to a lack of courts in the interior of the country but will also lead to further moroseness."

Protesters wore black gowns and held black balloons and banners which read "Put an end to the new judicial map," as traditional Portuguese folk music played in the background.

The country's Court Clerks' Union said the new law will cause difficulties in the judicial system and the shortage of lawyers.

"If the new judicial law is implemented, people will find difficulty in accessing these services,"Director of the Court Clerks' union Fernando Jorge told Xinhua.

"We believe the closure of courts will have negative effects, like causing some judicial processes to disappear. We do not currently have the necessary conditions to implement this law for Sept. 1,"he added."The government has also recognized that there is a lack of at least 1,000 professionals."

Portugal's main workers'trade union GGTP-IN also joined in the protest.

Protests by workers have been ongoing in the country as the center-right government makes changes to labor laws and pensions, affecting the living conditions of many Portuguese citizens.

Portugal recently ended its 78-billion-euro bailout program it signed with its international lenders in May 2011, but the country's debt burden still amounts to almost 130 percent of its GDP.