Police clear new Lisbon housing protest camp after thousands rally
They are demanding the government scrap a Bill making evictions easier and ending rent caps on new leases
On Sunday, Portuguese police cleared a tent camp in Lisbon's Rossio Square after thousands rallied against a rental Bill they believed would exacerbate the country's housing crisis. The protests have intensified across Europe, following similar unrest in Spain, France, and Germany. Over 50 tents were initially erected in Rossio Square, with the majority removed by police around 4.30 am (0430 GMT) on Sunday.
Dozens of officers, some with police dogs, entered the square and dismantled the camps after issuing three warnings. Protesters, shielding the tents, were dispersed using shields and some baton charges. Five socialist lawmakers criticized the police intervention, calling it unjustified. The government, however, ruled out scrapping the Bill, stating they were open to amending it before a final vote.
Prime Minister Luis Montenegro emphasized that parties must "move closer" while maintaining the "main line of action is the government's programme."
Written by urgent.news from The Business Times - Companies & Markets's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
