Protest against the housing crisis spreads to Portugal

Protest against the housing crisis spreads in Portugal October 18, 2026 Demonstrators set up dozens of stalls on Saturday (October 17, 2026) in Lisbon in a protest against the cost of living and housing in Portugal, in echo of recent demonstrations in Spain. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Rossio square, the tourist heart of the Portuguese capital, after a march that mobilized thousands of people across the country. The attendees, mostly young people, expressed their intention to stay all night, singing songs around the statue of King Pedro IV that dominates the square, observed by AFP journalists. "The Portuguese social class that pays taxes, the one that moves the country, is under attack and losing its rights, especially the right to housing," claimed Elena Costa, a 46-year-old social worker. "So we are together here to try to explain that we are drowning," she added. Engineer Antonio Margado, 52, criticized the center-right government for "a total liberalization of rents. Landlords are increasingly protected while tenants who need a home have less and less protection." Prices increased more than in the rest of Europe Housing prices rose by 124% between 2015 and 2024, double the European increase, according to official data. The impact is especially severe on young people and inhabitants of Lisbon, which concentrates a quarter of the country's more than 11 million inhabitants. Saturday's camp in Lisbon expanded a housing protest initiated in the northern city of Porto, where dozens of tents were set up. During the day in Lisbon, the demonstrators marched to the rhythm of drums and showed banners with the phrases "Your greed is our misery" and "The cost of living is increasing, the people can't take anymore." Prime Minister Luis Montenegro said this week that "we fully understand that people want answers" and "to express their anger about what they consider to be omission public policies." But he warned his opponents not to "import to Portugal climates of instability and protest that, in fact, do not have support in Portuguese society," in an apparent reference to the recent violent protests in France. Spain is also facing housing protest camps and demonstrations that have dragged on for four weeks, which led to the call for early elections for November 29. jc (afp, efe) Don't let the algorithm hide the news. If you trust this site for reliable information, please take a moment to select us as your preferred source on Google: click here and check the box or press the DW.com button to always see our verified news according to your preferences.