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In front of the Parliament of Portugal, almost a dozen chefs, restaurant owners, and entertainment professionals have been on a hunger strike for a week, for what they call a "ridiculous and surreal" decision by the Portuguese government to restrict opening hours for restaurants, hotels, and other businesses during weekends. According to the country’s latest state-of-emergency measures, shops, restaurants, and bars can only operate until 1pm on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, with a compulsory curfew in the afternoons.
"Why can we work in the mornings but not at night? It is stupid, is it only on weekends that the virus is active, not on weekdays?" asked Ljubomir Stanisic, a famous chef in Portugal, and the face of a movement called ‘A Pão e Água’ (Bread and Water), highlighting the hand-to-mouth existence of those in the hospitality sector.
The hunger strike is the most radical measure taken by the group to push their demands to the government, who have so far refused to meet them. Since the last week of November, they have only been drinking water and tea. "It was a way we came up with to show that we are human beings and not puppets in the hands of politicians. What we want is to be heard, and the government needs to give people who work in this area a chance to expose their difficulties, to tell what they are experiencing,” said the Bosnian chef.
Stanisic is known as a controversial figure: he is the host of the Portuguese version of the Kitchen Nightmares TV show, says what he thinks, is always straight to the point, and is frequently involved with causes he truly believes in. This is such a cause, which he claims is in favour of the entire sector. “It is not just restaurants that are suffering deeply from this situation. We have people from bars, clubs, all the hospitality industry is here,” he explained.
Ljubomir Stanisic photo by Jorge Luís
Initial demonstrations began a few weeks ago all over the country - first in Porto, then in Lisbon and Faro (in the Algarve region) - when it coordinated through social networks to protest in front of Government buildings. The group alleges that the government has not provided sufficient aid for the struggling sector. Placards held by protestors spelled out their plight: ‘We need support.’ ‘We want to work, we need answers.’ ‘Until they listen to us, we will fight.’
In response, the federal Government stated they have opened applications for support to the hospitality sector, saying that the program has already received 26,000 applications. Meanwhile, a virtual petition is gaining momentum, having already collected almost 50 thousand signatures. But it hasn’t been enough, which is why Stanisic decided to go on a hunger strike, and other colleagues accompanied him. "Someone had to embody the manifesto for everyone's claim to be heard. We are not very united as a category, so I thought it could be a way to draw attention to the movement," he explained.
Other chefs and restaurant owners stood with Stanisic in front of Parliament to show solidarity. Pedro Cardoso, the owner of Solar dos Presuntos, one of the most traditional restaurants in Lisbon, wept before the chef: "You know that not everyone likes you, but what you are doing for everyone is commendable," he said.
“I went there to hug a friend, who chose to protest in a very specific way to the situation we are all going through, which can cause him health problems. I respect Ljubomir’s demonstration, as I believe that our industry is divided,” said chef João Rodrigues, from Michelin-starred restaurant, Feitoria, in Lisbon.
Chef Vasco Coelho Santos, from Euskalduna Studio, in Porto, believes that the hunger strike by Stanisic and the other participants is noteworthy because they are "showing their faces" and fighting for an entire sector. "I think it is inconceivable that after these days, none of the government representatives has yet made themselves available to speak with them. With people on hunger strike in front of the Assembly, I don't understand how they haven't set up a meeting yet," he said.
On Wednesday, 2 December, Stanisic felt sick and was taken to the hospital because of a drop in his blood glucose and excess tiredness. After an injection, and signing a declaration of responsibility, he was back at the demonstration. “I feel so much stronger now,” he said.
Artists and celebrities left messages of support on social media. Meanwhile, Stanisic said he hopes to have the strength to endure until he can climb the stairs to Parliament for a meeting with the Prime Minister or the Minister for the Economy.
"I want to be able to tell them that, after all, we want to protect people, we want to work, support our families, our employees, who are the ones who will suffer most from all this situation. And all these people will not be able to survive on bread and water alone.”
