Housing protesters maintain camps in Lisbon and Porto after clashes
Housing right demonstrators maintained protest camps in Lisbon and Porto following tensions and clashes with police forces that left injured people and triggered inquiries.
Protesters Set up Tents in Porto Square
Hundreds of people spent the night gathered in Praça D. João I in Porto, setting up tents across half of the square after a crowded assembly that concluded with the singing of “Bella Ciao” and calls for the resignation of Pedro Duarte, as reported by Observador. The demonstration followed an earlier police intervention on Thursday morning that left 37 people injured, according to R7.
Organizers implemented a strict internal security protocol dubbed “FODASE”—an acronym standing for calmness, observation, safety distance, the city as a weapon, personal security, and total friction against capital—while deploying a permanent medical unit to treat panic attacks and minor injuries on site. During the gathering, members of a surveillance team with masked faces operated to ensure individuals were not alone, de-escalate situations, and monitor other groups, while organizers instructed participants through megaphones to keep the square clean and avoid illicit substances.
Demonstrators Accuse Firefighters of Siding with Police
Tensions extended beyond the protesters themselves. Observador reported that demonstrators accused firefighters stationed nearby of taking the side of the police and concealing the severity of injuries sustained during the clashes, prompting emergency crews to remain on high alert for potential vandalism. Ana Casado, representing the movement, attempted to calm the situation near the fire station.
The ombudsperson also requested official information from the PSP regarding the police intervention, as noted by Diário de Notícias.
Authorities and Lawyers Debate Nighttime Protest Legality
The legality of the nighttime protests formed a central point of contention between authorities and legal representatives. Police authorities noted that public meetings and demonstrations in public spaces are prohibited after 00:30, a restriction confirmed to SÁBADO by lawyer Pedro Proença. While acknowledging the legal curfew on late-night public gatherings, Proença maintained that the authorities lacked legitimacy to resort to violence in dispersing the crowds.
Housing Rights Clash with Concerns over Public Disorder
Contrasting perspectives on the demonstrations emerged across different outlets. While participants framed the movement as a defense of the right to housing against a deepening social crisis, opinion commentary published by SAPO argued that the protests were driven by a desire for public disorder and political disruption rather than constructive housing reform. The commentary highlighted that past housing policies under António Costa involved threats of expropriations and the obliteration of property rights through the Mais Habitação program, which critics say caused landlords to abandon the rental market, while noting that out of 26 mil affordable homes promised under the “house for all until 2024” initiative, only 1,400 materialized. Conversely, it pointed out that for the first time in 11 years, the curve inverted with mais 26,7 mil additional homes entering the market and 42 mil licensed in 2025 alongside controlled immigration, setting the stage where the underlying issue may instead stem from a country where only one in four workers earns more than mil euros per month.