Batons and dogs against tents: Lisbon argues over the clearing of the Rossio housing protest

What happened

In the early hours of Sunday, the PSP police cleared the housing movement's tent camps on Rossio in Lisbon and Praça D. João I in Porto. After more than two hours of tension and repeated orders to take down the tents, officers used batons and dogs. Protesters had invoked their constitutional right to demonstrate.

The PSP reports 33 injured and 33 arrests for disobedience, while other reports give different figures; organisers speak of dozens injured. Police had already cleared the camps on 20 October, arresting 55 people and seizing 228 tents. The interior administration inspectorate IGAI has now opened an administrative inquiry, and prosecutors are also investigating.

The movement demands the repeal of the new rental law, an end to evictions without rehousing, limits on property purchases by investment funds, more public housing and genuinely affordable rents.

The mood on the ground

Organisers accuse police of moving against people who were asleep and report rubber bullets and tasers, allegations the inquiry is now meant to examine. After the first clearance, the movement had vowed not to let up until everyone has a home.

Politically, the country is split. Left-wing parties condemned the operation, demanded explanations from Prime Minister Luís Montenegro and called on President António José Seguro to intervene. The governing PSD was the only party to defend the police.

Prosecutor General Amadeu Guerra suggested reviewing the 1974 law on demonstrations, saying it is a matter for parliament. For now he sees no need for a Constitutional Court review, adding that laws should not be changed in step with individual incidents.

Voices from the media