Portuguese Police Clear Housing Protest Camps in Lisbon and Porto
The coordinated evictions come as soaring rents and a disputed tenancy bill fuel widespread public anger over housing costs across Portugal.
Portuguese police cleared protest tent encampments in Lisbon and Porto early Tuesday, October 20, 2026. Officers launched coordinated operations just before 6:00 a.m. to remove the camps from central public squares.
Public Security Police officers cleared Rossio Square in Lisbon, where protesters formed a human chain. Clashes broke out and officers used batons. In Porto, demonstrators at Dom João I Square largely complied with orders and dismantled their tents without reported clashes.
Police arrested 55 people in Lisbon for civil disobedience and refusing to leave Rossio Square voluntarily. Authorities seized 228 camping structures across both sites. Demonstrators had pitched about 200 tents in Lisbon since Saturday, while the Porto camp had stood for about 10 days.
Accounts differed on the number of people injured during the operations. Police said two people sustained minor injuries and received prompt medical treatment. Protesters reported that approximately 30 demonstrators suffered injuries.
Public Security Police Superintendent Sérgio Soares told reporters the eviction was calm, proportionate, and appropriate. Soares added that officers conducted no police charge. Lisbon encampment spokesperson Carla Valadão said the police operation was very aggressive.
Hours after the morning clearance, thousands of demonstrators returned to central squares in both cities. Organizers said more than 1,000 protesters gathered in each city to resume their demonstrations. Porto Mayor Pedro Duarte said officials would continue to hear housing concerns if demonstrations remained peaceful and legal.
Demonstrators protested against the housing crisis and a government bill easing evictions and removing rent caps on new leases. Home purchase prices and rents for new leases have more than doubled in Portugal since 2017. Shortages and price increases have affected Lisbon and Porto, driven partly by tourism and foreign arrivals.
The housing bill recently passed its first parliamentary reading with the abstention of the far-right Chega party. Protesters accused the centre-right government of Prime Minister Luís Montenegro of failing to address the housing crisis. The Portuguese encampments mirrored housing protests in Madrid, Spain, while unrest over living costs occurred in France, Belgium, and Italy.
Police released the 55 detained protesters ahead of a scheduled court appearance before a judicial magistrate on Wednesday, October 21, 2026. Porto municipal authorities and police placed metal barriers around Dom João I Square to prevent new camps. Lisbon organizers voted to return and pitch tents again, pledging to continue demonstrations until the government withdraws the bill.
