Constitutional experts point to 'gross violation' of the right to protest

Constitutional law experts Jorge Reis Novais and Teresa Violante state that the government and police are making an abusive and restrictive interpretation of the 1974 law on public demonstrations regarding recent housing protests in Lisbon and Porto. While the Prosecutor General has challenged Parliament to review the 1974 decree, the experts argue that the current law is sufficient and that the issue lies in the authorities' recent, strict application of the law, which they characterize as a violation of fundamental rights.