D002-PORTUGAL DISTURBIOS PROTESTAS VIVIENDA

STORY: Portuguese police cleared a housing protest camp from the center of Lisbon in the early hours of Sunday (October 25), charging demonstrators and making several arrests, with minor injuries reported, though figures were not immediately available.

Portugal is grappling with one of Europe's most acute home affordability crises, as prices have more than doubled since 2017, while rents for new leases have nearly doubled, with young people among the hardest hit.

Shortly after 2 a.m. (0100 GMT), dozens of officers, some with police dogs, moved in on the camp in Rossio Square, after warning protesters to remove their tents or face their dismantling, and threatening disobedience charges for those who resisted.

Protesters had pitched more than 100 tents after Saturday's (October 24) protest march by thousands along one of the capital's main avenues. Protesters say soaring rents and higher living costs are squeezing households and turning housing into a growing source of discontent, with young people among those hardest hit.

The Bank of Portugal estimates a shortfall of 300,000 homes nationwide, equivalent to Lisbon's entire housing stock.

The protesters are demanding that the government scrap a bill to make evictions easier and end rent caps on new leases, which passed a first parliamentary reading, although the far-right Chega party abstained. The protest followed similar demonstrations in Belgium, France, Italy and Spain.