Latest news and stories about housing rights in Portugal for expats and residents.
The government is proposing a rental reform that would make eviction orders immediately enforceable based solely on a judge's decision. This change aims to eliminate the need for separate enforcement proceedings, allowing landlords to regain property access more quickly if tenants fail to pay rent.
A study by the Institute of Public and Social Policies (Instituto de Políticas Públicas e Sociais) found that housing is the least protected right among those established in the 1976 Constitution (Constituição). While 42% of citizens believe the document reflects national aspirations, many feel the right to decent housing (habitação condigna) remains unfulfilled. The report marks 50 years since the publication of the constitutional text.
After António José Seguro and Luís Montenegro expressed their dissatisfaction with the images of police charges and housing rights protests, Mariana Vieira da Silva laments the timing chosen by Belém and São Bento, arguing that the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister “reacted too late” to the actions of the PSP.
After António José Seguro and Luís Montenegro expressed their dissatisfaction with the footage of police charges and housing rights protests, Mariana Vieira da Silva regrets the timing chosen by Belém and São Bento and argues that the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister “reacted too late” to the actions of the PSP.
Demonstrations advocating for housing rights are now taking place in the Azores.
The vote was far from consensual, but the return of the tents to Praça D. João I was ultimately approved. Dialogue with the PSP led to a retreat by the protesters, who had reached the point of discussing a security plan.
The People's Assembly gathered 400 people in Rossio and decided on a new major action for Saturday. Carolina Deslandes performed and moved the audience. Students from the AAC arrived from Coimbra in solidarity with the cause.
The Popular Assembly voted for the return of the encampment for the right to housing, but the movement ended up dismantling the protest at 00:30, following discussions with the authorities.
The author examines the constitutional framework of the right to housing in Portugal, distinguishing it from fundamental rights, liberties, and guarantees. It argues that while the right to protest is protected, it does not justify vandalism or the obstruction of other rights. The text discusses the delicate balance police must maintain between protecting public order and respecting the right to protest, ultimately concluding that occupying public spaces and disobeying lawful police orders are not appropriate ways to advocate for claims in a rule-of-law state.
Renata Cambra assures the administrative court that she will maintain a 'peaceful' and 'silent' gathering during the night and guarantees the right of movement to other citizens.
Daniel Oliveira and Francisco Mendes da Silva analyse the statements from the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister in reaction to the police charge against people protesting for housing rights at Rossio, in Lisbon, last Sunday morning.
Around 18:30, protesters began gathering for the demonstration called by the 'Casa Para Viver' (Home to Live In) platform, chanting “housing is a right, without it nothing is done”.
On Tuesday, the PSP released a video on social media showing that its officers were also victims of violence by protesters during police interventions early Sunday morning, asserting that “violence cannot be tolerated.” “We always seek understanding and reconciliation among everyone. However, violence cannot be tolerated.”
The 55 protesters advocating for housing rights, who were detained a week ago in Rossio, Lisbon, will appear before the Public Prosecution today to learn the next steps in their case.
Porto's municipal assembly was marked today by criticism from the public who, during the period reserved for their intervention, recalled the two police charges on the encampment and linked them to the statements made by the mayor, Pedro Duarte.
Leitão Amaro praised the work of the PSP and clarified that the Executive is “proud” of the Portuguese authorities. Luís Montenegro remains silent regarding the protests for the right to housing.
The General Inspectorate of Internal Administration (IGAI) has opened an investigation following the police interventions that took place early Sunday morning at Rossio in Lisbon and Praça D. João I in Porto. In a response sent to Lusa, the IGAI explained that, following publicly released news and footage, it was determined that an investigation should be opened.
The General Inspectorate of Internal Administration (IGAI) has launched an administrative process to examine police actions that took place early Sunday morning in Rossio, Lisbon, and Praça D. João I, Porto. These interventions, which occurred during protests for the right to housing, resulted in dozens of injuries and arrests after police used batons and dogs to disperse demonstrators who refused to dismantle their tents. IGAI stated it is evaluating the procedures adopted, while the Public Prosecution Service has also opened an inquiry into the events. Opposition parties have criticised the police conduct, seeking clarification from Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, while the PSD has defended the police response.
Thousands of people gathered in Lisbon's Rossio and Porto's Praça D. João I on Sunday evening, turning the housing rights movement into a joint protest against the previous night's police crackdown. The PSP intervention, which used batons and police dogs to disperse protesters, left at least 33 injured and 31 arrested, sparking outrage and comparisons to the darkest periods of history. Despite the tensions and the presence of riot police, demonstrators pledged to continue their peaceful resistance, demanding accountability from the Ministry of Internal Administration and criticizing the government's justification of the force used.
The violent charges launched by the police against entirely peaceful protests signalled the death not only of a long-dying social democracy, but of the April democratic regime. Opinion piece by Pedro Levi Bismarck
CNN Portugal reporter Emanuel Monteiro spoke with several citizens who answered the demonstration organizers' call and joined the protests at Rossio, less than a day after the police charge that left nearly 30 injured.
In Lisbon, Spanish trade union leader Pablo García Bachiller argued that the fight for the right to housing is international and requires unity of action.
Lawyer Paulo Saragoça da Mata, a commentator for CNN Portugal, analyzes the police crackdown early this morning against those camping out for housing rights in Lisbon and Porto.
Left Bloc MEP Catarina Martins has criticised the police action against housing rights protesters in Lisbon and Porto, aligning herself with the views of Social Democrat Jorge Moreira da Silva, who labelled the police crackdown on peaceful demonstrations as an unjustifiable political error.
The PSP forcibly removed the tents of those camping for housing rights in Lisbon and Porto. The police report 11 injured, while the organizers report more than 50.
The PS Secretary-General held a press conference this morning at the party's district headquarters in Porto to respond to this morning's police charges in Lisbon and Porto. Also, Brazil chooses a new president.
A crowd gathered again in Praça D. João I for the right to housing and refused to take down tents. A police response followed: a show of force that resulted in injuries. 'We will return'.
The PSP is evaluating calls to attack the demonstrations for the right to housing this Saturday. Authorities are conducting inquiries to prevent incidents that could disrupt the right to protest.
The day of the demonstrations across the country for the right to housing has arrived. Thousands of people are expected in the streets of Lisbon and Porto, but there are also protests in Aveiro, Braga and Coimbra.
