Housing
European Commission defers to Portuguese authorities on public order during housing protests
The European Commission stated that maintenance of public order is a national responsibility and declined to comment on police actions during recent housing protests in Portugal. Meanwhile, a Lisbon Administrative Court ruling on Sunday, 1 November, allowed a protester to keep a tent in Rossio until 24 November 2026, though the Ministry of Internal Affairs argues this ruling is specific to one individual and does not create a general right to camp in public spaces.
Why it matters
While this clarifies that the EU will not intervene in local protest management, the ongoing tension between court rulings and government policy on public demonstrations means you should expect continued police presence and potential disruptions in major city centers like Lisbon and Porto during housing-related protests.SIC NotíciasRead original ↗
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