The president of the Institute for Housing and Urban Rehabilitation (IHRU) issued a statement clarifying his recent comments regarding the willingness of young people to make sacrifices to secure housing, following a request for explanations from the Minister of Infrastructure and Housing.
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The president of the Institute for Housing and Urban Rehabilitation questioned whether current society is prepared for the sacrifices, such as long-term emigration, that previous generations made to secure housing. Separately, police removed housing protest tents in Rossio this morning, 22 October, though organizers state they will return. Additionally, a vigil is scheduled for 18:00 on Friday, 23 October, in Lisbon's Marvila district, in protest against the eviction of a local woman and her children.
Around two hundred people gathered in Braga on Saturday, 24 October, to protest against the housing crisis and the cost of living. The demonstration was triggered by controversial remarks from the head of the Institute for Housing and Urban Rehabilitation (IHRU) regarding the younger generation's capacity for sacrifice, which he later apologized for. Participants are calling for measures including rent caps, an increase in public housing, and a halt to evictions without alternative housing.
The president of the Institute for Housing and Urban Rehabilitation (IHRU), Benjamim Pereira, apologized for recent comments suggesting today's youth should make more sacrifices to afford housing, similar to previous generations. While the leader of the Socialist Party (PS) criticized the remarks as unfortunate, he deferred any decision on a potential resignation to the Prime Minister, even as other opposition parties call for hearings or the official's dismissal.