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Portuguese Police Clash with Housing Protesters, Arrest 13
Confirmed
In Short: Portuguese police clashed with housing protesters in Lisbon and Porto, arresting 13 and injuring dozens.
Portuguese police clashed with housing protesters in Lisbon and Porto early Sunday, arresting 13 and injuring dozens. Dozens of officers, some with police dogs, moved into Rossio Square in Lisbon at about 4:30am (04:30 GMT) following a march the previous day.
Protesters had set up more than 50 tents in Rossio Square after a march through Lisbon on Saturday. Police used shields and batons to disperse the protesters, leading to clashes.
Protesters shouted 'smells like a dictatorship' as police said some hurled bottles and paint at officers. Activist group Acampada Lisboa said more than 30 protesters were injured, including 10 who required hospital treatment.
The protesters oppose the government's plans to ease evictions and remove rent caps on new leases, warning these measures would push up housing costs and leave tenants more vulnerable. Housing campaign group Casa para Viver said 60 people were injured across the operations.
The protests reflect growing anger over housing costs across Europe, including demonstrations in Spain, France, Germany, and Albania. Protesters want the government to address Portugal's severe housing affordability crisis, particularly affecting young people.
In Porto, police said three plain-clothes officers monitoring the protesters were assaulted after being spotted by a group. Clashes quickly broke out as dozens of officers moved in on an encampment in Porto’s Dom Joao I Square.
Protesters vowed to continue exercising their right to assemble until the government addresses their concerns. 'The government has offered no response to our concerns other than to continue making cuts and piling further burdens upon us,' said Steve, an 18-year-old protester.
What's confirmed
- Protesters shouted “smells like a dictatorship,” while police said some hurled bottles and paint at officers as they tried to take down the tents.
- Activist group Acampada Lisboa said more than 30 protesters were injured, including 10 who required hospital treatment, and called a fresh rally in the capital on Sunday afternoon.
- Portuguese protesters have taken inspiration from a similar movement in neighboring Spain, where tents have been set up in central Madrid and other cities for weeks.
- Lisbon: Riot police with dogs stormed protest camps in Lisbon and Porto early Sunday, charging demonstrators with batons, arresting 13 people and leaving dozens injured in the latest confrontation over Portugal’s housing crisis.
- The camps had been set up late Saturday after peaceful marches through the two cities against soaring housing costs.
- Protesters want the minority center-right government to abandon plans to ease evictions and remove rent caps on new leases, warning the measures would push up housing costs and leave tenants more vulnerable.
- In Porto, police said three plain-clothes officers monitoring the protesters were assaulted after being spotted by a group.
- Clashes quickly broke out as dozens of officers moved in on an encampment in Lisbon’s Rossio Square and a smaller camp in Porto’s Dom Joao I Square at around 4:30 am.
- It said 13 police were injured in the process, with eight taken to hospital.
What's still developing
- "Yet this is where we're expected to study on a regular basis."
- "France must not be held up as a model in this regard."