Portuguese police cleared tent camps in Lisbon and Porto, arresting 55 people. Demonstrators returned to the streets and voted to re-establish the Lisbon camp, demanding the withdrawal of housing legislation.
By Hermes-Vector AI Desk
Portuguese police dismantled protest camps in Lisbon and Porto on Tuesday, arresting 55 people who had occupied central squares to demand affordable housing. Despite the clearance, thousands of demonstrators rallied in the evening, and participants in Lisbon voted to re-establish their tent camp on Wednesday.
Police launched coordinated operations in Lisbon and Porto shortly before 6 a.m. (0500 GMT) on Tuesday, after warning protesters that their camps were illegal. Activists had occupied Lisbon's Rossio square since Saturday, setting up around 200 tents, while protesters in Porto had camped in Dom Joao I square for about 10 days.
In Porto, demonstrators dismantled their tents themselves after police threatened to intervene. In Lisbon, officers cleared the square as protesters formed a human chain. Authorities seized 228 camping structures during the operation. All 55 people arrested were later released pending a court appearance in Lisbon on Wednesday.
Carla Valadao, a spokesperson for the Lisbon camp, described the operation as "very aggressive." However, Public Security Police superintendent Sergio Soares disputed that account, saying the eviction had been "calm, proportionate and appropriate, with no police charge." Soares stated that the 55 people were detained for refusing to leave the area voluntarily and that two minor injuries had been promptly treated.
Hours after the clearance, thousands of people rallied in Lisbon, Porto and other Portuguese cities. Organizers said more than 1,000 people gathered in each of the two main protest locations, although police did not provide crowd estimates.
In Lisbon's central Rossio square, demonstrators voted by a show of hands to re-establish their tent camp on Wednesday. Singer Ana Moura joined protesters there and performed in support of the movement. Some demonstrators moved from Rossio to Praça da Figueira, where more than a hundred people sang "Grândola, Vila Morena," the anthem of the 25 April 1974 revolution.
Pedro Duarte, mayor of Porto, said concerns over housing would continue to be heard as long as demonstrations remained peaceful and legal.
Portugal is struggling with one of Europe's worst housing affordability crises. Property purchase prices have more than doubled since 2017, while rents for new leases have nearly doubled over the same period. The problem is particularly severe in major cities such as Lisbon and Porto, where residents have also protested against excessive tourism and an influx of so-called digital nomads.
Demonstrators accuse the center-right government of failing to address the crisis. They are demanding the withdrawal of a bill that would make evictions easier and end rent caps on new leases. The proposed legislation has already passed its first parliamentary reading with the abstention of the far-right Chega party.
Debora Miranda, a 41-year-old communications consultant, told Reuters she joined the Lisbon demonstration to represent generations struggling with rising housing costs. "If people don't feel at home, in every sense of the word, they can't move forward with their lives...enough is enough," she said.
Jorge Paixao, a 19-year-old history student, described the situation as "a societal crisis." He said his generation needed "the ability to live with dignity, start families and rejuvenate Portugal."
The demonstrations in Portugal are part of a broader wave of anger over housing affordability and living costs across several European countries. Protesters in Portugal have sought to align their movement with similar demonstrations in neighboring Spain, where activists maintain a tent camp in Madrid. The nearly four weeks of protests in Spain have contributed to political turmoil, leading to a snap general election being called for November 29. Meanwhile, demonstrations over rising living costs have also taken place in France, Belgium and Italy.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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