Thousands of Portuguese Gather Outside Parliament as Housing Protests Swell
Protesters say rising prices and rents have pushed locals out, as the government weighs housing reforms and plans for 145,000 new homes.
- On Tuesday, thousands gathered outside Parliament in Lisbon protesting the deepening housing crisis, after police used batons and dogs to break up similar demonstrations in downtown squares.
- Housing prices rose almost 20% between early last year and early 2026, while rental prices recorded a 68% increase since 2020, according to the National Statistics Institute.
- Gabriel Pais, 30, who works in entertainment, noted one-bedroom apartments in Lisbon routinely cost 1,500 euros , far exceeding the 920 euros minimum monthly wage earned by many Portuguese.
- Portuguese President António José Seguro, whose role is mostly ceremonial but wields political influence, convened a Council of State for next week to discuss the protests.
- Inspired by demonstrations in neighboring Spain last month, the unrest reflects broader European housing pressures; infrastructure funds will be scarcer in 2027 as European Union post-COVID-19 recovery financing ends this year.
19 Articles
19 Articles
Video. Portugal: Lisbon housing crisis sparks protest outside parliament
Video. Demonstrators gathered outside Portugal's parliament to protest against the housing crisis and police violence during recent camp clearances. The president has called for dialogue while defending police actions.
Sapo
DnoticiasThousands of supporters were already filling the street of São Bento in front of the parliament in Lisbon at the end of the afternoon, forcing PSP to stop the traffic even before the time of the concentration for the right to housing at 6:30 p.m.
On Tuesday, the first day of the EO 2027 debate, thousands of demonstrators filled the square in front of the Assembly of the Republic in Lisbon.
On the day of the debate on the State Budget, thousands of people are concentrated in front of the Assembly of the Republic in another demonstration for housing.
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