World · Europe · 1 hr ago
Police clear Lisbon housing protest camp and make arrests
Portuguese police cleared a housing protest camp in central Lisbon in the early hours of Oct.
25 and made several arrests.
Dozens of officers moved into Rossio Square after protesters pitched more than 100 tents following a march by thousands.
Police had cleared a similar camp there on Oct.
20, and hundreds gathered to defend the new encampment.
Portugal faces a severe housing affordability crisis, with home prices more than doubling since 2017 and rents for new leases nearly doubling.
The Bank of Portugal estimates the country is short 300,000 homes, while young people are among those hit hardest by rising housing costs.
Protesters want the government to scrap a bill that would make evictions easier and end rent caps on new leases; it has passed a first parliamentary reading.
The next step for the bill is not stated, while police said the action involved minor injuries and several arrests, with figures not immediately available.
Portuguese police cleared a housing protest camp in central Lisbon in the early hours of October 25, charging demonstrators and making several arrests.
Minor injuries were reported, but figures were not immediately available.
The camp in Rossio Square had more than 100 tents after a march attended by thousands.
Protesters were opposing high housing costs and a proposed bill that would make evictions easier and end rent caps on new leases.
A Left Bloc lawmaker called the police action completely disproportionate.
- Who
- Portuguese police and housing protesters. Several arrests were made.
- What
- Police cleared a protest camp, charged demonstrators and made arrests.
- When
- In the early hours of October 25, 2026. Officers moved in shortly after 2am.
- Where
- Rossio Square in central Lisbon, Portugal.
- Why
- Protesters were demonstrating over housing costs and opposing a bill to make evictions easier and end rent caps on new leases.
Housing protesters and Left Bloc lawmaker Fabian Figueiredo
Portuguese police
Police action
Housing protesters and Left Bloc lawmaker Fabian Figueiredo
Figueiredo called the action completely disproportionate and said there had been no public disorder.
Portuguese police
Police warned protesters to remove their tents or face their dismantling, and threatened disobedience charges for those who resisted.
Housing policy
Housing protesters and Left Bloc lawmaker Fabian Figueiredo
Protesters demanded the government scrap a bill to make evictions easier and end rent caps on new leases.
Portuguese police
The bill had passed a first parliamentary reading; the articles do not state the police’s view on the policy.
Police dismantled a similar camp in Rossio Square.
Thousands marched along one of Lisbon’s main avenues, and protesters pitched more than 100 tents.
Dozens of officers moved in on the camp after warning protesters to remove their tents.
Police cleared the camp, charged demonstrators and made several arrests; minor injuries were reported.
- Location
- Rossio Square, central Lisbon
- Tents
- More than 100
- Police deployment
- Dozens of officers
- Housing shortfall
- 300,000 homes nationwide, according to the Bank of Portugal
- Bill status
- Passed a first parliamentary reading
- Initial camp clearance
- October 20
3 sources
What people are saying
We have an obligation to fight for what we believe in
The police action was "completely disproportionate
The worst thing that could happen was having this police force charge hundreds of people who are here peacefully. Why?