World · 3 d ago
Police disperse a housing protest camp in Lisbon
Dozens of officers with shields and batons, some with police dogs, moved into Rossio Square at about 4:30 a.m. on Sunday and dispersed hundreds of demonstrators. Police also dismantled a smaller camp in Porto.
A day after thousands marched in Lisbon, protesters put up more than 50 tents in the square. They want the minority centre-right government to scrap a bill that would make evictions easier and remove rent caps on new leases.
Casa para Viver
60 people injured
Police
“Proportionate”
Last Sunday, police arrested 25 people in Lisbon and six in Porto in similar operations. A housing campaign group says 60 people were injured, while police called the operations “proportionate”.
Homes short nationwide
300,000 homes
The Bank of Portugal estimates a nationwide shortage of 300,000 homes, and house prices have more than doubled since 2017.
