By TheWorldNews7 News Desk
Portuguese police forces dismantled housing protest camps in Lisbon and Porto in the early hours of Sunday, resulting in over 30 arrests. Officers used batons and dogs to clear at least 100 tents from Lisbon’s Rossio Square and approximately 50 tents from Porto’s Dom João I Square.
Clashes and Arrests in Lisbon and Porto
The police operations began shortly after 2 a.m., leading to the removal of 171 structures. Authorities reported that 31 individuals were arrested for disobedience, and 11 people were injured, including three police officers. While police described the action as proportionate and stated they had previously urged protesters to leave voluntarily, the activist group Casa Para Viver contested these figures, claiming more than 20 people were injured by batons, dogs, and rubber bullets during the raid.
Rising Tensions Over Housing Crisis
The protests were organized to highlight Portugal's deepening housing crisis, where property prices have more than doubled since 2017 and rental costs have nearly doubled. Campaigners have criticized the government's handling of the situation, arguing that officials are choosing to crack down on protesters rather than addressing the economic causes of the crisis, such as digital nomad schemes, golden visas, and the rise of short-term rentals.
Political Reaction to Police Action
Fabian Figueiredo, an MP with the Left Bloc, criticized the police intervention, describing it as an affront to the country's democracy and noting that both the right to housing and the right to peaceful protest are constitutionally guaranteed. The housing movement in Portugal gained momentum in early October, following similar protest encampments in Spain that have become symbols of widespread discontent regarding urban affordability across Europe.
