Portugal’s housing minister rejects protests, vows no surrender to street pressure

Portugal's Parliamentary Affairs Minister Carlos Abreu Amorim said Thursday the government "will not yield to shouts from the street" regarding the housing crisis, dismissing protests as ineffective. Speaking during a parliamentary debate requested by the Communist Party, Amorim stated housing "will not be resolved with Palestinian flags" or public disorder. He defended the government's approach of implementing "serious public policies" while maintaining public order. The remarks followed a police intervention at a Porto housing protest, which CDS-PP deputy Paulo Núncio described as an illegal occupation by a "minority of troublemakers." Amorim also accused Left Bloc leader José Manuel Pureza of inciting insurrection.