Housing protests: Rossio encampment reaches 22 days

Protesters occupying Rossio are deciding whether to continue their encampment or accept one of the proposals put forward by the Lisbon City Council.

Protesters occupying Rossio are deciding whether to continue their encampment or accept one of the proposals put forward by the Lisbon City Council.
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Read today’s briefingA 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.

The Minister of Justice stated that a recent court decision regarding the protest camp at Rossio square does not grant an indiscriminate right to keep tents in public spaces. She criticized the lack of balance from some protesters while acknowledging that tensions arose from both sides.
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.