Thousands Rally for Housing in Lisbon and Porto as the Ombudsman's Monitors Watch the Rossio Tents Standoff
Thousands marched in Lisbon and Porto on Saturday, a week after the camps were cleared. The Ombudsman's torture-prevention team was present, and by early evening the question was whether tents would go up again for the night.
Thousands of people marched for housing in Lisbon and Porto on Saturday afternoon, a week after the police cleared the protest camps in both cities, and by early evening the question was the same as last weekend's: whether tents would go up again for the night, and what the police would do if they did. The Ombudsman's torture-prevention team was there to watch.
None of the reports published by about 18:00 mentioned arrests or clashes, and Lusa described the Lisbon march as orderly. The evening in both squares was still ahead.
Turnout in Lisbon and Porto
No police or organiser figures had been published by early evening. In Lisbon, more than a thousand people had gathered at Largo Camões from 16:00, the Lusa news agency reported via ECO. Shortly after 17:00 "thousands" set off towards the Rossio, behind chants and applause, Lusa reported in Notícias ao Minuto. Police cars and vans were visible in the streets around the square.
In Porto, the march left Praça da Batalha at 16:50 with a tent carried at its head and reached Praça D. João I about 50 minutes later. Lusa put the crowd at "thousands", in its Notícias ao Minuto report. Smaller assemblies were scheduled in Viana do Castelo, Braga, Faro and Beja, Lusa said in its morning preview.
The demands are unchanged: withdrawal of the new rental law, no evictions without rehousing, more public housing and rent caps.
Ombudsman's monitors present
The Mecanismo Nacional de Prevenção (National Preventive Mechanism, the Ombudsman's body that inspects places where people are held in custody) was present at the march and at the Rossio camp, Público reported, and the PSP (Polícia de Segurança Pública, the urban police) had been told of its presence. Six citizens, including former MEP Ana Gomes, had asked it on Friday to attend and to make unannounced visits to any police station where detainees were taken, Lusa reported.
The tents question
A spokesperson for the Acampada de Lisboa (Lisbon Camp) movement told Lusa that tents would be pitched again in the Rossio. The PSP has said it will not allow this to continue overnight. Its Lisbon commander, Superintendent-Chief Luís Elias, told Observador on Friday that tents would be tolerated only as a "symbolic element" during the protest and must come down when it ends or at the 00:30 limit. He said "dialogue" would come first, but ruled out "infinite dialogue". In Porto, a popular assembly at about 19:30 was due to decide whether to camp.
Interior Minister Luís Neves called housing "an absolutely natural and human right" but said that "no demonstration can put the rights of third parties at risk", Observador reported.
Political reactions
Socialist leader José Luís Carneiro expressed "solidarity with those in the squares" and said his party was ready to work on solutions, Lusa reported. Left Bloc coordinator José Manuel Pureza said in Porto that Prime Minister Luís Montenegro had kept his promise to unite the country, "against this law", Lusa reported. Chega leader André Ventura asked protesters not to turn their anger on the police, Observador reported.
What it means for you
Expect police cordons and disruption around the Rossio and Praça D. João I tonight. The rental bill passed its first vote on 30 September and is now being amended in parliament's housing committee, where Chega's vote will decide it, Lusa reported. A national housing demonstration is planned for 14 November, Lusa reported. The 55 people detained on 20 October still face their 6 November deadline, as we reported, and the IGAI inquiry into last weekend's clearances continues.
