Thousands rallied outside Portugal's parliament on Tuesday to protest a deepening housing crisis and recent police operations against activists. The demonstrations highlight Portugal's severe home affordability issues, with prices and rents surging while wages lag. Protesters demanded the government scrap a bill speeding up evictions and ending rent caps.
The protests highlight Portugal's severe housing affordability crisis, impacting residents' cost of living and the right to protest, while government responses and police actions are under scrutiny.
Thousands rallied outside Portugal's parliament in Lisbon on Tuesday to protest against a deepening housing crisis and recent police operations against housing activists. Portugal is experiencing one of Europe's most acute home affordability crises, with prices more than doubling since 2017 and new-lease rents nearly doubling, disproportionately affecting young people. The protest followed police operations to dismantle tent camps set up by activists, leading to allegations of excessive force. Organizers claimed several thousand people attended the rally, while police provided no crowd estimate. Protesters demanded the government scrap a bill that would speed up evictions and end rent caps on new leases. The government's draft budget for 2027 was also being debated by lawmakers. Portugal's internal affairs watchdog and prosecutors have launched inquiries into the police conduct.
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