Lisbon police clear housing protest camp, arrest 25

Portuguese police dismantled a protest camp in central Lisbon early Sunday, arresting 25 people as they cleared tents set up to denounce the country’s housing crisis. Officers, some accompanied by dogs, moved into Rossio Square just after 2 a.m. local time. They had warned demonstrators that their tents would be removed if they didn’t leave voluntarily.

Nationwide crackdown

The camp in Lisbon followed a Saturday march by thousands along a main avenue. More than 100 tents had been pitched in the square. A smaller camp with around 50 tents in Porto’s Praca D Joao I was also dismantled, resulting in six arrests. Police described the operations as “proportionate”. Seven minor injuries were reported among officers and protesters across both cities.

The 25 people arrested in Lisbon were later released and are due in court on Monday. Activist group Casa para Viver (Homes to Live) said 60 people were hurt and called for a new protest outside parliament on Tuesday. The group accused the government of choosing “the early hours of the morning to unleash dogs and baton-charge peaceful protesters” as a political decision, saying it would rather repress those denouncing the housing crisis than address it.

Portugal faces one of Europe’s most severe home affordability problems. Prices have more than doubled since 2017, and rents for new leases have nearly doubled, hitting young people especially hard. The Bank of Portugal estimates a shortfall of 300,000 homes nationwide, equal to Lisbon’s entire housing stock. Protesters want the government to scrap a bill that would make evictions easier and end rent caps on new leases. The bill has passed a first parliamentary reading, with the far-right Chega party abstaining.