Police dismantled housing protest camps in Lisbon and Porto early on Tuesday morning (October 20), with demonstrators in Porto peacefully complying with orders to leave, while the operation in the capital resulted in several arrests.
Officers from the Public Security Police (PSP) arrived at Rossio Square in Lisbon and Praça D. João I in Porto shortly before 6am, ordering protesters to remove their tents and belongings.
In Porto, where campaigners had been protesting over the housing crisis since October 10, the operation took place without confrontation.
According to RTP, demonstrators initially resisted the order to leave but eventually complied, asking police for additional time to collect their belongings and dismantle their tents.
The authorities allowed protesters to remove their possessions, and the situation remained calm throughout the operation. No arrests had been reported in Porto at the time of writing.
The previous evening, 35 protesters had voted during a public assembly to continue their occupation of Praça D. João I, despite warnings that camping in the public square was illegal.
The police intervention brought an end to a protest that was about to enter its 11th day.
Tensions in Lisbon
The situation was more tense in Lisbon, where protesters had been camping in Rossio Square since Saturday.
According to Euronews, demonstrators resisted police orders to leave, and objects were thrown towards officers, prompting the PSP’s special police unit to intervene.
Several people were detained during the operation, with RTP reporting preliminary information suggesting at least 22 arrests. The authorities had not yet confirmed an official figure.
The police intervention followed warnings from the authorities that protesters could not continue occupying public spaces with tents.
On Monday, the Minister of Internal Administration reiterated that the law must be respected, signalling that the authorities would act against unauthorised encampments.
The demonstrations form part of a wider housing protest movement demanding action to address Portugal’s housing crisis, including rising rents, property prices and difficulties accessing affordable accommodation.
Despite the removal of the camps, the movement has continued to call for stronger government measures to guarantee the right to housing.
Sources: RTP / Euronews
Inês Lopes
Newspaper editor at The Portugal Resident