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Police dismantled a tent camp in Lisbon’s Rossio Square on Sunday after thousands marched to protest a rent bill proposed by Portugal’s minority centre-right government, AnewZ reported.
Thousands of people joined a march in central Lisbon on Saturday. More than 50 tents were set up in Rossio Square after the march.
At about 4:30 a.m., police officers, including units with service dogs, entered the camp. Police commander Iuri Rodrigues warned protesters three times that the tents, which had been set up without authorization, would be removed if they were not taken down. He said those who resisted could face charges of disobedience.
Hundreds of protesters trying to protect the camp were moved away by police using shields and, in some cases, batons. Police also dismantled a smaller tent camp in Porto’s Dom João I Square.
Before the operation, Socialist lawmaker Pedro Delgado Alves said the situation in Rossio Square was peaceful and that nothing justified “a police intervention involving the use of force, physical violence or baton blows.” He recalled scenes witnessed the previous week.
Police faced criticism after using batons against protesters and arresting dozens while dismantling tent camps in the same squares a week earlier.
Protesters are demanding the withdrawal of a bill that would ease evictions and remove price limits on new rental contracts. The bill passed its first reading in parliament, with the far-right Chega party abstaining.
Prime Minister Luis Montenegro ruled out withdrawing the bill on Thursday but said he was open to amendments before a final vote expected in the coming weeks. He said parties “need to move closer to one another,” while stressing that “the government’s programme is the main course of action.”
Socialist Party leader Jose Luis Carneiro called on the government on Saturday to negotiate with opposition parties and protesters rather than impose its position “arrogantly, sometimes even with authoritarian overtones.”
Portugal is facing one of Europe’s most severe housing crises, with young people among those hardest hit. House prices in the country have more than doubled since 2017, while rents on new contracts have nearly doubled.
Protests against rising housing costs in Portugal have intensified in recent weeks. Similar demonstrations are also taking place in Spain, France, Germany and other European countries.
