Housing protests spread across Portugal as rallies hit Lisbon, Porto, and other cities

Nationwide housing protests continue this Saturday with demonstrations and popular assemblies scheduled in multiple cities across the country, organized by civic movements demanding government action on the housing crisis. In Lisbon, a protest begins at 3 p.m. from Marquês de Pombal to Rossio, while Porto's march starts at 4 p.m. from Praça da Batalha to Praça D. João I. Assemblies are also set for Aveiro, Braga, and Coimbra at 3 p.m., following two weeks of ongoing protests in Porto. Demonstrators demand the government withdraw the new rent law and adopt measures including ending demolitions and evictions without housing alternatives, banning property purchases by investment funds, increasing public housing, capping rents, and rehabilitating vacant properties. On Friday night, over a hundred people held a peaceful vigil against an eviction in Marvila, and the popular assembly unanimously approved another campout at Rossio tonight. Porto protest organizers denied mayor Pedro Duarte's claims of "very cordial" contacts, while similar protests occur in Spain, France, and Italy.