Key facts
- Tens of thousands marched in Lisbon on Saturday.
- Protesters are concerned about low wages and rising housing and living costs.
- House prices have more than doubled since 2017.
- Rents for new leases have nearly doubled.
- Portugal's inflation hit 3.6% in September.
Tens of thousands of people marched through central Lisbon on Saturday, October 17, to protest against soaring living costs and a deepening housing crisis in Portugal. The demonstration, called by Portugal's biggest union CGTP, highlighted concerns that low wages are not keeping pace with rising expenses. Protesters pointed to housing costs, with house prices more than doubling since 2017 and rents for new leases nearly doubling, contributing to one of Europe's worst housing affordability crises. Inflation in Portugal hit 3.6% in September, driven by food and fuel prices. A 26-year-old researcher, Carolina Cruz, shared her struggle to afford rent, while a 62-year-old teacher, Pedro Penilo, expressed worry about his mortgage. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Carlos Abreu Amorim stated that the government would implement measures to address these issues.