Thousands of protesters have returned to two central squares in Portugal to demonstrate against the country's deepening housing crisis, just hours after police dismantled protest camps in the capital Lisbon and in Porto and detained 55 people.
According to activist groups, they are demanding that the centre-right government withdraw a bill that would make it easier to evict tenants and end a rent-cap mechanism for new lease contracts. The bill has passed its first reading in parliament.
On Tuesday, protesters in Lisbon sought to rebuild the sit-in camp at Rossio Square, while those in Porto returned to Dom Joao I Square in the northern city.
Organisers said more than 1,000 people gathered in each square. Activists had occupied Lisbon's Rossio Square since Saturday with around 200 tents, and Porto's Dom Joao I Square for about 10 days.
'Enough is enough'
Debora Miranda, 41, a communications consultant, told Reuters she joined the protest at Rossio Square to represent generations struggling with the rising cost of living. "If people don't feel they have a home, in every sense of the word, they can't get on with their lives... enough is enough."
The camps echo housing protests in neighbouring Spain and come amid growing cost-of-living unrest in countries such as France, Belgium and Italy.
Shortly before 6am, after warning protesters that the camps were illegal, police carried out coordinated operations in both cities. Protesters in Porto complied with the orders and took down their tents themselves. Officers cleared Lisbon's Rossio Square in an operation that camp spokesperson Carla Valadao described as "very violent".
Sergio Soares, director of the Public Security Police, told reporters that the clearance had been "smooth, proportionate and appropriate, with no police attacks".
The 55 people arrested were later released, pending court appearances in Lisbon on Wednesday.
One of Europe's worst housing crises
Portugal is facing one of the worst housing affordability crises in Europe, with home prices having more than doubled since 2017 and rents on new contracts nearly doubling.
Jorge Paixao, 19, a history student, called it "a social crisis", arguing that his generation needs "the ability to live with dignity, start a family and renew Portugal".
The pressure is most acute in the major cities, which have also seen opposition to overtourism and to the wave of so-called "digital nomads" who work remotely while travelling.
