Thousands of people took to the streets in Lisbon and Porto on Saturday to demand the right to housing, protesting against the Government's housing policies and real estate speculation, with many families reporting precarious conditions.
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A Pitagórica poll for TVI and CNN Portugal reveals that while nearly 70% of respondents agree with the demand for affordable housing, 60% disapprove of encampments as a protest tactic. Additionally, more respondents evaluated the police intervention to clear protester tents in Porto negatively than positively.
Police interventions during housing protests in Lisbon and Porto during the early hours of Sunday 25 October resulted in 31 arrests and at least 11 injuries.
The Mayor of Porto stated he is open to finding licensed, non-disruptive spaces for housing protests following the police clearance of encampments in Lisbon and Porto on the night of 25 October. While expressing regret over the police intervention that resulted in injuries and 31 arrests, he emphasized that occupying public squares is not acceptable and distinguished between housing protesters and an 'ultra-minority' group he claims seeks to incite chaos.