Portuguese police cleared housing protest camps in Lisbon and Porto early on 20 October, arresting 55 demonstrators after activists refused orders to remove tents from public squares.
The operations ended encampments established by campaigners demanding action on soaring property prices, unaffordable rents and proposed changes to eviction rules. Protesters accused the authorities of using force to suppress their demonstrations and pledged to continue their campaign.
Police said the gatherings had become unlawful and described their intervention as calm and proportionate, according to Reuters.
The clearances followed several days of demonstrations that brought hundreds of protesters into the centres of Portugal's two largest cities.
Police dismantle protest camps In Lisbon, demonstrators had occupied Rossio Square since 17 October, setting up tents around the monument to King Pedro IV following a nationwide protest over housing costs and living standards.
At its height, the encampment contained approximately 200 tents, according to Reuters. Organisers said they intended to remain until their demands received a meaningful response.
Police arrived shortly before 06:00 on 20 October and instructed those occupying the square to leave.
Some demonstrators formed a human chain in an attempt to resist the removal of the camp. Officers subsequently dismantled the encampment and detained participants who refused to comply.
Carla Valadão, a representative of the Lisbon protesters, criticised the police operation as aggressive and said the movement would return.
Police superintendent Sérgio Soares gave a different account, saying officers had acted proportionately and in accordance with the law.
A parallel operation took place at Praça Dom João I in Porto, where protesters had occupied the square for approximately 10 days.
Participants there removed their tents as authorities moved to end the demonstration.
Porto Mayor Pedro Duarte said he remained willing to listen to the demonstrators' concerns, provided protests remained peaceful and complied with the law.
Housing costs drive demonstrations The movement reflects mounting dissatisfaction with Portugal's housing market, where rising prices have made it increasingly difficult for younger people and lower-income workers to find affordable accommodation.
Official figures show that house prices increased by approximately 124% between 2015 and 2024, roughly twice the European Union average over the same period.
The pressure is particularly acute in Lisbon and Porto, where demand for housing has grown while many residents struggle to keep pace with rental costs.
Ruben Alexandre, a 25-year-old petrol station employee who earns the minimum wage, told AFP that he had been working since he was 18 but still could not afford to move out of his parents' home.
The demonstrations have also focused on government proposals that campaigners say would make it easier for landlords to evict tenants and weaken protections in new rental agreements.
Supporters of reforms argue that changes to rental regulations could encourage property owners to return vacant homes to the market and increase the supply of available accommodation.
Protest organisers reject that approach, arguing that it could expose vulnerable tenants to greater insecurity without addressing the shortage of affordable housing.
Before the camps were cleared, activists had called for coordinated demonstrations across the Iberian Peninsula and urged trade unions to consider a general strike on 11 November.
Teachers confront police in Madrid The Portuguese housing demonstrations coincide with other protests across Europe, including industrial action by teachers in neighbouring Spain.
In Madrid, police used batons against striking teachers on 19 October after protesters blocked access to an event attended by regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso, according to Spanish public broadcaster RTVE.
The confrontation occurred near the Madrid Chamber of Commerce during the fourth day of an indefinite teachers' strike.
Unions are demanding smaller classes, higher pay and additional resources for public education.
Teachers also temporarily blocked part of the A-3 motorway in the Moratalaz district, disrupting traffic during the morning.
Ayuso accused political opponents of organising a campaign against her administration, while protesters said the demonstrations were intended to draw attention to deteriorating working conditions in public schools.
The education dispute is separate from the Portuguese housing protests, although both movements are taking place during a wider period of demonstrations across several European countries.
In Portugal, activists have said they intend to organise further demonstrations following the police clearances, while authorities maintain that protests must comply with rules governing the use of public spaces.
