Housing Camps Ask Seguro to Broker Talks With the Government After Three Hours at Belém, on the Eve of a 30-City Protest

Representatives of Portugal's housing protest movements came out of a meeting of almost three hours with President António José Seguro at the Palácio de Belém on Friday saying he had given "a political signal", and that they had asked him to act as a mediator between them and the Government to resolve the housing crisis, Lusa reported via ECO. The meeting comes a day before a national housing protest called for Saturday 14 November in more than 30 cities.

This morning's background on what the camps took to Belém, including rent caps and a halt to the new rental law, is in our earlier report.

Who was in the room

Eighteen representatives of the acampadas (the protest camps) of Lisbon and Porto, nine from each, and seven from the Casa Para Viver platform were received, according to Negócios. Casa Para Viver ("A Home to Live In") is a coalition of around a hundred housing associations and collectives. The delegation included members of the camps' working groups and technical specialists: the architects Bernardo Amaral and Joana Moreira and the social worker António Brito Guterres.

What the movements say Seguro told them

Speaking afterwards, Maria João of the Porto camp said Seguro had appealed for dialogue and told them he would not "let the matter drop, even if the television channels stop talking about it", RTP reported. "The President of the Republic felt our pain," she added.

Another representative, André Escoval, told reporters outside the palace that the meeting carried "a signal from the Presidency of the Republic to the executive that it is necessary to listen to this country that has risen up", Observador's live coverage reported. The delegations described Seguro as "open" and "willing to talk".

The Presidency's own note on the meeting is brief. It says only that Seguro heard a group of delegates from housing-rights movements and platforms, who set out their concerns and proposals. It does not say whether he will take up the request to mediate.

Saturday's national protest

Casa Para Viver has called a national demonstration for Saturday 14 November, including in Lisbon. The platform said in a statement on 4 November that it would take place in "more than 30 cities", Lusa reported. Its demands include reversing the new rental law, curbing the purchase of homes by property funds, and rent ceilings that are "truly affordable".

Speaking before the Belém meeting, Rita Silva of the platform said "a fair housing policy is not going to fall from the sky" and that it depends on people staying on the streets, Observador reported. She said the Government dropping the new rental law would be "a very important" sign that it was listening.

What it means for you

• Expect marches and gatherings in Lisbon, Porto and other cities on Saturday. Start times and meeting points are set city by city: check the organisers' own channels (casaparaviver.pt and their social media accounts) before you travel, and allow extra time if your journey crosses a march route.
• Nothing changes yet for tenants or landlords as a result of this meeting. If the Government shifts course on the rental law, or new rules are published in the Diário da República (the official gazette), we will explain what they mean for you.