Portugal Protesters Return to Camps After Police Clearings
Source reports published 21 Oct 2026, 9:11 am – 10:00 am AEST
Following police actions that dismantled protest camps in Lisbon and Porto, thousands of protesters returned to establish new encampments. The demonstrations continued against a housing crisis and a government bill intended to ease evictions.
What happened
- Thousands of protesters returned to Rossio Square in Lisbon and Dom Joao I Square in Porto after police cleared their camps on Tuesday.
- Fifty-five people were arrested during the coordinated operations, which began shortly before 6 a.m. Local television footage showed clashes in Lisbon following the square’s clearing.
- Police superintendent Sergio Soares stated that the eviction was ‘calm, proportionate and appropriate, with no police charge.’
- Carla Valadao, a spokesperson for the Lisbon camp, described the operation as ‘very aggressive.’
- Protesters, numbering over 1,000 in each location, vowed to continue their campaign against Portugal’s housing crisis, which has seen property prices more than double since 2017 and rents nearly double.
- The demonstrators demanded the withdrawal of a bill that would ease evictions and end rent caps.
- The crisis is particularly acute in Lisbon and Porto, where residents are also protesting against excessive tourism and digital nomads.
- Demonstrators in Spain have created a similar tent camp in Madrid, and unrest over rising living costs has been reported in France, Belgium, and Italy.
Original reporting
- Al Jazeera: Portugal cost-of-living protesters pour back into camps cleared by police
2026-10-21T00:00:00+00:00 - Deutsche Welle: Portugal housing protests continue after police clear camps
2026-10-20T23:11:33.672000+00:00