Thousands of people joined housing and cost-of-living protests across Portugal on Saturday (31 Oct), as a long-running housing affordability crisis continued to fuel demonstrations over rising rents, declining access to housing and pressure on household incomes.
The protests have focused on Portugal’s worsening housing crisis, with campaigners opposing proposed changes to rental legislation that they argue could weaken tenant protections. The government has defended its approach, while acknowledging the need to address housing affordability.
Key developments:
- Thousands of protesters rallied in Lisbon, including outside the Assembly of the Republic, demanding greater access to affordable housing.
- Demonstrators criticised rising property prices, rents and low wages, particularly affecting younger generations.
- Police operations to clear protest camps in Lisbon and Porto sparked debate over the use of force and the right to protest.