(VOVworld) - Tens of thousands of people have protested government austerity policies in Italy and Portugal. Almost all protests were peaceful, except for some minor clashes with police outside the Ministry of Finance’s headquarter in Rome. Organizers in Italy said that the number of protesters has numbered 70,000, though police put the number at closer to 50,000. Italy had to deploy up to 4,000 policemen to ensure security. The protesters criticized the government's a one-way austerity which they said does not bring down the debt but hinders economic development while politicians continue to receive their huge privileges.  Some of the protestors threatened to blockade Rome. Italy has struggled to shake off a two-year recession that has pushed unemployment to record levels, shut down thousands of businesses and forced many young people to leave the country.