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Police Clear Lisbon and Porto Tent Camps, Probe Follows

By Drooid · Oct 28, 2026, 03:02 UTC · How we work

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Summary

Police baton-charged demonstrators and cleared tent camps in Lisbon and Porto on Sunday.
Protesters demanded scrapping a bill that speeds evictions and ends rent caps on new leases.
IGAI opened an inquiry and prosecutors launched a separate investigation into police conduct.
Police reported seven minor injuries while activist group Casa para Viver said 60 people were hurt.

History

In 2015, Portugal’s Parliament, led by Prime Minister António Costa, passed the Rental Market Reform that lifted rent caps on new leases, sparking nationwide housing protests. The law immediately applied to roughly 1.2 million rental contracts, a 30 % increase in market-rate units, according to the Institute for Housing Studies. Today, police in Lisbon and Porto again confront demonstrators demanding the repeal of an eviction-accelerating bill, with IGAI opening an inquiry and Casa para Viver reporting dozens of injuries. The recurrence underscores Portugal’s lingering rent-control debate and suggests future judicial reviews may reshape eviction procedures across the country.

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Historical Context

In 2015, Portugal’s Parliament, led by Prime Minister António Costa, passed the Rental Market Reform that lifted rent caps on new leases, sparking nationwide housing protests. The law immediately applied to roughly 1.2 million rental contracts, a 30 % increase in market-rate units, according to the Institute for Housing Studies. Today, police in Lisbon and Porto again confront demonstrators demanding the repeal of an eviction-accelerating bill, with IGAI opening an inquiry and Casa para Viver reporting dozens of injuries. The recurrence underscores Portugal’s lingering rent-control debate and suggests future judicial reviews may reshape eviction procedures across the country.

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