Portugal taxi drivers stage massive protest against Uber

Thousands of taxi drivers protested across Portugal on Friday, against what they claim is an illegal car-sharing service.

Hundreds of taxi drivers drove down Lisbon's Avenida de Liberdade (Freedom Avenue) in the city center, beeping their horns and displaying signs that read "Stop Uber" in what was the country's biggest anti-Uber protest to date.

The taxi drivers were received by the Lisbon Mayor Fernando Medina at the town hall. They then headed to parliament where heads of the association were welcomed by the President of Parliament Ferro Rodrigues.

Citizens were recommended to take public transport as the protest disrupted traffic during the morning rush hour.

Protests also took place in the second largest city Porto and in southern city Faro.

The protests come after a manifesto was handed to the government earlier this month, with associations claiming the service is illegal because it doesn't comply with rules which taxi drivers are subject to.

"It (Uber) is illegal because it doesn't respect laws which in Portugal guides transport activities of taxis," the manifesto reads.

Uber says all its drivers have a license and that they comply with the law.

The Portuguese government has asked for an opinion regarding the company's functioning to the transport and mobility authority, and is awaiting guidelines from the European Commission.

Portugal's Left Bloc party agreed that Uber's activity was illegal. Taxi drivers said they would not abandon parliament until the heads of the taxi associations were welcomed by a member of the government.

Uber protests have taken place recently in numerous cities around the world. Endit