Housing Tensions Boil Over in Lisbon After Police Arrested 55 Protesters Last Week
Thousands of people returned to the streets of Lisbon and Porto, Portugal, on October 20, just hours after police removed protest camps. Police arrested 55 people in Lisbon during the early morning operation.
The protesters oppose a proposed housing law that would make it easier for landlords to evict tenants and remove limits on rent for new leases. They fear the changes could lead to higher rents and fewer protections for people who rent their homes.
Housing is already expensive in Portugal, especially in major cities. Many residents struggle to pay rent, while younger people find it difficult to save enough money to buy their first homes.
Portugal’s parliament approved the proposal in an initial vote, but it had not become law. Protesters want the government to withdraw it and introduce stronger protections for renters.
Police Clear Protest Camps
Officers from Portugal’s Public Security Police arrived at protest camps in Lisbon and Porto shortly before 6 a.m. on October 20. Police said the camps were unauthorized and ordered protesters to leave.
In Porto, protesters removed their tents without major trouble. In Lisbon’s Rossio Square, some demonstrators refused to leave, leading to arrests.
Police arrested 55 people and removed 228 tents. Two people suffered minor injuries, according to Portuguese broadcaster RTP.
Some protesters accused officers of using too much force. Carla Valadao, a spokesperson for the Lisbon protest camp, described the operation as “very aggressive,” according to Reuters.
Police disagreed. Public Security Police superintendent Sergio Soares said the operation was “calm, proportionate and appropriate, with no police charge.”
All 55 people were released after their arrests and ordered to appear in court on October 21.
Protesters Return That Evening
Despite the arrests, demonstrators returned to Lisbon and Porto later that evening. They continued demanding lower housing costs and stronger protections against eviction.
In Lisbon, protesters held a public meeting and voted to return to Rossio Square with their tents the following day.
Debora Miranda, a 41-year-old communications consultant, told Reuters that high housing costs were making it harder for people to build stable lives.
“If people don’t feel at home, in every sense of the word, they can’t move forward with their lives…enough is enough,” Miranda said.
Jorge Paixão, a 19-year-old history student, described the housing problem as “a societal crisis.” He said young people needed “the ability to live with dignity, start families and rejuvenate Portugal.”
Dispute Over Housing Law
Portugal’s government argues that changing rental rules could encourage more property owners to rent out their homes. Officials believe this could increase the number of available rental properties.
Protesters disagree. They fear that removing rent limits on new leases would allow landlords to charge more, while easier evictions would make renters less secure.
The proposed law was still under consideration when the demonstrations took place.
Protesters planned to bring their tents back to Rossio Square on October 21. The 55 people arrested during the police operation were also scheduled to appear in court that day.
