Portuguese police cleared protest camps in Lisbon and Porto on October 20, 2026, arresting 55 individuals who refused to vacate public squares occupied due to a severe housing crisis. This marks a significant escalation in ongoing demonstrations against soaring housing costs and new rental market reforms in Portugal.

The clashes highlight the growing tension between Portuguese citizens struggling with housing affordability and a government seeking to enforce public order while addressing a crisis where rents in Lisbon alone exceed the average salary by 16%.

What the records show

This followed a previous violent intervention on October 15 in Porto, where police cleared a re-established camp that Movimento pela Habitação had set up on October 10. That incident led to 37 reported injuries, including two serious, according to the Housing Movement, with Santo António Hospital confirming seven admissions. Amnesty International called for an independent investigation into the alleged excessive force used.

Portugal's housing crisis is severe, with purchase prices and new lease rents almost doubling since 2017, exacerbated by reforms in the “Mais Habitação” program making evictions easier and ending rent caps.

What changed

What we could not confirm