The Portuguese government has restored four public holidays cut in the previous administration’s attempt to boost productivity.

The new socialist government won parliament’s approval to discard one of the most unpopular legacies of a recent austerity drive and bring back the holidays cut two years ago.

The decision means there will be public holidays this year on:

26 May to mark the feast of Corpus Christi

5 October to commemorate the 1910 establishment of the Portuguese republic

1 November to mark All Saints’ Day

1 December to mark Portugal’s 1640 return to independence after 60 years of Spanish rule

The holidays were axed by the previous centre-right government in an attempt to improve productivity after Portugal’s €78bn (£58bn) bailout in 2011.



Ridding Portugal of austerity is regarded as a badge of honour for the government, which took power in November.