The Lisboa Brief, Week of 31 October 2026: The Rossio Cleared Again, New Money for the Red Line, and a Barrier for Airport Taxis

The tents went back up on the Rossio last weekend and came down again within hours. Also this week: both of Friday's transport strikes were called off, the government found the money for the Metro's Red Line to Alcântara, and from Tuesday a barrier decides which taxis can work the airport rank. Tomorrow is All Saints' Day.

The Rossio, Cleared a Second Time

At about 02:00 last Sunday, hours after Saturday's housing march, riot police broke up the camp on the Rossio again and pushed protesters towards Praça da Figueira. The square was empty by 02:10. The PSP's later count for Lisbon and Porto together was 33 detained for disobedience and 33 injured. The IGAI, which oversees the police, has opened an inquiry, and the Ombudsman has asked the PSP for documents. President Seguro said he "did not like what I saw" and has called the Council of State for 2 November. The 55 people detained at the first clearance on 20 October have until 6 November to choose between paying 150 euros to a charity, which suspends the case, and going to trial. Everyone accused is presumed innocent unless convicted.

Housing: Land, Tax Breaks and Prices

The council approved a settlement with the developer SGAL that keeps Alta de Lisboa plots with more than 71,500 square metres of building capacity, valued at 46 million euros, in city hands. Carlos Moedas wants affordable homes there, but no number or date has been set. The same meeting redrew the urban rehabilitation area for 2027, widening the zone where renovation work can qualify for 6 percent VAT and IMI breaks; the municipal assembly still has to agree. If you need an affordable flat now, the council's 40th Renda Acessível draw offers 14 homes in Benfica, with applications on Habitar Lisboa until 17:00 on 5 November.

INE's local figures put Lisbon at 5,192 euros per square metre, the dearest in the country, ahead of Cascais and Oeiras. Sintra rose 26.9 percent in a year, against 14.7 percent in the city. Bank valuations in Greater Lisbon reached 3,452 euros per square metre in September. In Palmela, about 145 buyers caught in an alleged 15 million euro off-plan fraud want deposits on new homes protected by law.

Both Friday Strikes Called Off

The unions suspended the Metro's morning strikes of 28 and 30 October, in protest at a minimum service ruling they say put safety in question. The staffing dispute behind them is not settled. A day later CP's conductors withdrew their 24-hour strike after talks with the infrastructure ministry, though their union says it can resume action if the commitments are not kept.

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Money for the Red Line

The cabinet on Thursday approved new funding for the Red Line extension to Alcântara: 405.4 million euros from the Metro's European Investment Bank loans and the EU's Sustentável 2030 programme, after the project lost its recovery-plan money. Two days earlier the EIB announced 400 million euros for the Metro, for new trains, signalling and the extension. The 4.1 kilometre line would add stations at Campolide/Amoreiras, Campo de Ourique, Infante Santo and Alcântara. The works still need the Court of Auditors to clear the supervision contract, and no start date has been set.

A Barrier at the Airport Taxi Rank

From 10:00 on Tuesday 3 November, a barrier at the arrivals rank of Humberto Delgado airport lets in only accredited taxis. Fixed fares into the city have applied since 15 October. By day, for up to four passengers, it is 16 euros to zone 1 (which includes Alvalade, Lumiar and Parque das Nações) and 19 euros to zone 2 (which includes the Baixa, Alfama and Belém). At night, at weekends and on holidays it is 20 and 23 euros.

Also This Week

Fidelidade, the insurer of Carris, told a court that the 125,000 euros sought for the loss of life of a Glória funicular victim is "manifestly excessive". PSP and GNR officers marched from Largo do Carmo to São Bento on Thursday over pay. Private ambulance firms called off Monday's slow drive across the 25 de Abril bridge after the government added them to its fuel aid. The Ombudsman sided with the Religious Freedom Commission over the Catholic blessing at the opening of the new Cascais secondary school, according to the secularist group that complained. Students from outside the EU can apply to the University of Lisbon for 2027/28 from 4 January. Brazilians voting in Lisbon gave Lula 60.1 percent in the runoff. For tonight and tomorrow, our guide explains Halloween and Pão-por-Deus with children.

On in Lisbon

Parliament opens the Palácio de São Bento to the public this afternoon from 14:30 to 19:00, free, as it does on the last Saturday of each month; guided tours need booking on the Assembleia da República website. At the Teatro Nacional D. Maria II, the Razões Pessoais company's school-theatre take on Gil Vicente, "Sumário: Auto da Barca do Inferno", gives its last show tonight at 19:30, in Portuguese with audio description and Portuguese Sign Language (15 euros). For children aged 3 and up, LU.CA in Ajuda (Calçada da Ajuda 80) clears its seats for a Halloween dance party with DJ Inês Lopes Gonçalves, today and tomorrow, 14:30 to 16:30 and 17:00 to 19:00.

Tomorrow, the Teatro Nacional de São Carlos ends its run of Bizet's "Carmen" at the CCB at 17:00, sung in French with Portuguese surtitles (45 to 75 euros). In the evening José González opens the 17th Misty Fest at the Coliseu dos Recreios at 21:00 (25 to 80 euros).

That is the capital's week. The Lisboa Brief returns next Saturday.

Feature image: the Rossio (Praça Dom Pedro IV), with the ruins of the Carmo convent above it, by Jorge Franganillo (CC BY 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons.