Police Clear Lisbon Housing Protest Camp as Rental Bill Fight Escalates

Police in Lisbon cleared a housing protest camp in Rossio Square early Sunday, using shields and some baton charges to disperse hundreds of demonstrators, according to Al Jazeera and The Independent. The operation came a week after similar police actions in the same squares drew criticism.

The protesters are demanding that Portugal’s government scrap a rental bill that would make evictions easier and end rent caps on new leases.

What happened in Lisbon and Porto

Officers, some with police dogs, moved into Rossio Square at about 4:30 a.m. Sunday, a day after thousands marched through the capital against the bill. Protesters had pitched more than 50 tents after the march. Police commander Iuri Rodrigues issued three warnings that the tents were illegal and that anyone resisting their removal could face disobedience charges, both outlets reported.

A smaller camp in Porto’s Dom Joao I square was also taken down. Al Jazeera reported that the previous Sunday, police arrested 25 people in Lisbon and six in Porto. The housing group Casa para Viver said 60 people were injured across those operations, which police described as proportionate.

What each side says

Pedro Delgado Alves, a Socialist lawmaker, said Rossio Square was peaceful and that nothing justified “a police intervention involving force, physical violence or baton charges.” Socialist Party leader Jose Luis Carneiro urged the government on Saturday to talk with opposition parties and protesters instead of imposing its views in an arrogant way, The Independent reported.

The minority centre-right government is pushing the bill through parliament. Prime Minister Luis Montenegro ruled out scrapping it on Thursday but said he is open to changes before a final vote in the coming weeks, adding that parties “have to move closer.” He said the main line of action remains the government’s programme. The bill passed a first reading with the abstention of the far-right Chega party, according to The Independent.

What this means for renters in Portugal

Protesters say the legislation would worsen affordability and leave tenants more exposed. Portugal faces one of Europe’s most severe housing affordability crises, with young people among the hardest hit, both outlets reported. House prices have more than doubled since 2017, and rents on new leases have almost doubled, according to Al Jazeera. The Bank of Portugal estimates a nationwide shortage of 300,000 homes, which Al Jazeera said is equivalent to Lisbon’s entire housing stock.

If the bill becomes law in its current form, evictions would be easier and rents on new leases would no longer be capped. Any amendments the government accepts before the final vote could change that.

What is at stake

The protests reflect wider anger over housing costs across Europe, Al Jazeera reported, including demonstrations in Spain. The Independent said protests over soaring costs have intensified in Portugal in recent weeks. A final parliamentary vote is expected in the coming weeks, and protesters are demanding that the government withdraw the bill.

Around Prague, based on reporting by Al Jazeera, The Independent