Key facts
- Thousands protested Portugal's housing crisis in Lisbon and Porto.
- Police cleared tent camps and arrested 55 people.
- Protesters demand government action on housing costs and eviction/rent cap laws.
Thousands of protesters returned to squares in Lisbon and Porto on Tuesday to demonstrate against Portugal's deepening housing crisis, hours after police cleared tent camps and made 55 arrests. Organizers stated over 1,000 people gathered in each city. Activists had occupied Lisbon’s Rossio square with around 200 tents since Saturday, and Porto’s Dom Joao I square for about 10 days. Police launched coordinated operations in both cities shortly before 6 a.m. after warning protesters that the camps were illegal. The 55 detainees were later released pending a court appearance. Portugal is experiencing one of Europe's worst housing affordability crises, with purchase prices more than doubling since 2017 and rents for new leases nearly doubling, particularly in major cities.