Portuguese Police Clear Lisbon Housing Protest Camp and Arrest Demonstrators

Portuguese police cleared a housing protest camp in central Lisbon early Sunday, charging demonstrators and making several arrests amid minor injuries, as Portugal faces one of Europe's most severe home affordability crises with prices more than doubling since 2017. Dozens of officers with police dogs moved on the Rossio Square camp after warning protesters to remove their tents, dismantling over 100 tents pitched following Saturday's march. Left Bloc lawmaker Fabian Figueiredo called the action disproportionate, citing no public disorder, while protesters demand scrapping an eviction bill and ending rent cap removal. The Bank of Portugal estimates a shortfall of 300,000 homes nationwide, equivalent to Lisbon's entire housing stock, with young people hardest hit. Similar housing protests have occurred in Belgium, France, Italy, and Spain.