Portuguese police evict housing camps in Lisbon and Porto and detain protesters

Portuguese police dismantled protest camps against the housing crisis in the centers of Lisbon and Porto early Tuesday morning, resulting in the detention of 55 individuals for disobedience. The Public Security Police (PSP) launched coordinated operations in both cities around 6:00 a.m. local time, following ultimatums issued to participants demanding they dismantle their tents and vacate the occupied squares. While authorities described the intervention as necessary to restore legality in public spaces, camp organizers rejected claims of peaceful resolution, alleging police violence and stating that tents were destroyed while people slept inside them. The confrontation in Lisbon centered on Rossio Square, where protesters had maintained a presence since Saturday. As PSP Intervention Corps officers advanced to remove the structures, demonstrators formed human chains to delay the clearance. Local television footage captured clashes during the operation, with two individuals reporting minor injuries. The police stated that the use of force was justified by specific circumstances because some demonstrators refused to leave, though they insisted the action remained limited to the minimum necessary. Authorities confirmed the seizure of 228 tent structures in the capital. In Porto, the situation differed slightly; according to Tiago Machado, the lawyer representing the demonstrators there, activists voluntarily packed up their belongings upon the arrival of police forces. The camp in Porto’s King John I Square had been established roughly ten days prior. Priscilla Valadão, a spokesperson for the Lisbon camp, told press reporters that the tents were practically wrecked with occupants still inside. She emphasized that the group operates collectively rather than through a formal hierarchy, meaning the decision to remain was made by the community itself. Valadão announced that the first assembly had already agreed to return daily at 7:00 p.m. if expelled, continuing until their demands were met. Another protester, Ana Luísa, aged 25, told EFE agency that the noise would increase. She revealed that the campers are coordinating with groups in Madrid and promoting a proposal for a general strike across the Iberian Peninsula regarding housing on November 11. This initiative aims to align with strikes called by Spanish trade unions. The group has established a coordination network among Lisbon, Porto, and Madrid and initiated contacts with the Portuguese General Confederation of Labor (CGTP), hoping to secure its endorsement. Following the clearance, the Ministry of Internal Administration praised the professionalism of the PSP. In a statement, the ministry asserted that agents prioritized dialogue and persuasion to avoid resorting to force, despite images shared by the protesters themselves. Officials claimed the operations took place after successive contacts with demonstrators and only after voluntary withdrawal efforts were exhausted. However, Sergio Soares, a supervisor of public security forces, later told journalists that the eviction was calm, proportional, and appropriate, denying that a police charge occurred. He specified that the 55 detainees were brought to police stations and would be presented to the competent judicial authority as soon as possible. The protests emerge against a backdrop of severe economic pressure in Portugal, which has transitioned from one of the cheapest countries in the European Union to facing some of the highest cost-of-living gaps in the bloc. According to data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE), rents have risen by 124 percent over the last decade, a rate approximately double the EU average. Real estate prices have more than doubled since 2017, while new rental contracts have nearly doubled in price. In the second quarter of this year, prices increased by another 16.5 percent. The minimum wage for 2026 stands at 920 euros, yet half the population earns no more than 1,050 euros monthly. Historical factors cited by analysts include a real estate boom in 2001, when 70,000 homes were built, followed by the 2008 financial crisis. To attract private investment, Portugal introduced the Golden Visa program, allowing foreign investors who committed at least 500,000 euros to obtain residency permits and free movement within the Schengen area. Many investors came from China during this period. A subsequent measure in 2015, the non-habitual resident regime, attracted many French retirees seeking lower taxes, further driving up demand. Additionally, the tourism boom has pushed owners to convert residential apartments into short-term rentals, reducing available long-term housing stock. Protesters are demanding that the center-right government withdraw a draft law currently passing its first reading in parliament. This legislation would facilitate evictions and remove rent caps for new contracts. Associations such as Casa para Viver criticize recent government measures, including tax reductions for landlords renting properties below 2,300 euros per month, arguing that such policies normalize high costs and reward property owners. The demonstrations in Portugal mirror simultaneous unrest in Spain, France, Belgium, and Italy, driven by widespread discontent over housing affordability and speculation. In Spain, the forced eviction of 87-year-old pensioner Maricarmen Abascal in September sparked nationwide protests, although she died before reaching a settlement to return to her home. Despite the early morning clearance, the movement showed signs of resilience. Around 8:30 a.m., approximately forty people gathered in the nearby Figueira Square in Lisbon, holding an assembly to determine next steps. Municipal services cleaned the ground and removed posters from the central statue in Rossio, leaving no trace of the tents. Fire brigade ambulances and a heavy police presence remained visible in the area. Organizers have scheduled a demonstration for 7:00 p.m. Tuesday in the same square, signaling their intent to continue occupying public space.