The deepening housing crisis in Portugal has led to anti-government protests. Police intervened in the early hours of the morning against the demonstrators who camped in the squares in the capital cities of Lisbon and Porto demanding affordable housing.
According to Reuters, the protest camps established in Rossio Square in Lisbon and Dom João I Square in Porto were dispersed by security forces.
Portuguese Public Security Police (PSP) announced that 55 people who refused to leave the areas were detained, and two people were slightly injured during the intervention.
Activists protesting the increase in housing prices have been protesting with approximately 200 tents in Rossio Square in the center of Lisbon since Saturday.
Protesters had been camping in Dom João I Square in Porto for about 10 days.
Police launched a simultaneous operation in both cities shortly before 06:00 in the morning on Tuesday.
The demonstrators were informed that the camps were illegal and asked to vacate the areas.
While the demonstrators in Porto removed their tents themselves after the warning, police teams in Lisbon entered the square and dispersed the protest camp.
According to local media, during the intervention in Lisbon, some demonstrators tried to resist the evacuation by forming a human chain.
Carla Valadão, a spokesperson for the protest camp in Lisbon, criticized the security forces, arguing that the police intervention was harsh.
Valadão called the operation "very aggressive" and stated that the protests would not end.
While the demonstrators demanded the release of their detained friends, they also claimed that some of their personal belongings were confiscated by the police.
Activists announced that they would reconvene in Rossio Square at 19:00 on the same day.
Portuguese Public Security Police official Sérgio Soares rejected the protesters' claims.
Claiming that the operation was carried out in a calm and measured manner, Soares said that the intervention was "calm, proportionate and appropriate" and that there was no police attack.
Soares stated that the detentions were made because the demonstrators refused to leave the areas voluntarily.
Police announced that two people were slightly injured during the intervention and that medical care was provided to the injured at the scene.
Porto Mayor Pedro Duarte also said that demands regarding the housing issue will continue to be heard, but the demonstrations should be held peacefully and within the legal framework.
Portugal has become one of the countries in Europe where access to housing is most difficult.
While housing purchase prices have more than doubled in the country since 2017, the prices in new rental agreements have also approximately doubled.
The effects of the housing crisis are felt especially in big cities such as Lisbon and Porto.
Increasing tourism activities, short-term rentals and the demand created by foreigners settling in the country by working remotely are among the factors that increase the pressure on the housing market.
Protesters argue that it is becoming increasingly difficult for local people to access housing in the face of rising prices.
One of the main demands of the demonstrators is the withdrawal of the housing regulation prepared by the centre-right government.
The bill, which was first discussed in Parliament, includes provisions that facilitate the eviction of tenants and also envisages the removal of price limitations in new lease agreements.
The bill passed the first stage in parliament with the far-right Chega Party abstaining.
Housing rights advocates argue that if the regulation is adopted, especially low- and middle-income tenants will be under more pressure.
Protesters want the government to change housing policies and ensure affordable housing for everyone.
The demonstrations in Portugal coincided with protests against rising living costs in different European countries.
While demonstrations were held in neighboring Spain against the rise in housing prices and rents, reactions regarding the cost of living, wages and public services took to the streets in France, Belgium and Italy.
Protesters in Portugal announced that they would continue their protests for the right to housing despite the police intervention.
After the removal of tent camps in Lisbon and Porto, all eyes turned to the protesters' calls for new action and the government's controversial housing regulation.
