Thousands rally in Lisbon over housing costs
Thousands of people gathered in Rossio square in Lisbon, Portugal's capital, to demand affordable housing after police forcibly cleared a tent camp there. Protesters voted to return the next day and set up the camp again.
Thousands of people gathered in Rossio square in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, on Tuesday, 21 October, to demand affordable housing. The protest followed an earlier police operation that forcibly cleared a camp the demonstrators had set up in the square. Similar demonstrations were held in other Portuguese cities.
Participants chanted, lit flares and held up keys and placards. One sign read: "A house cannot be a privilege."
Return after the camp was cleared
After the camp was removed, protesters called a new gathering, and many came back to the square in the evening. At a public assembly, those present voted to return the next day and pitch their tents again.
Opposition to government plans
The demonstrators also oppose recent government proposals to ease the cap on yearly rent increases and to make it easier to evict tenants who fail to pay rent.
The Portuguese prime minister says the changes will build trust between landlords and tenants. Critics argue that they leave tenants more exposed.
