Thousands Protest Outside Portugal’s Parliament Over Soaring Housing Costs

Thousands of people gathered outside Portugal’s Parliament in Lisbon on Tuesday, October 27, to demand affordable housing as rising property prices and rents intensify public anger over the country’s deepening housing crisis.

The demonstration brought mostly young protesters to the capital’s parliament building, where lawmakers were debating the government’s spending plans for 2027. Participants chanted slogans, sang and beat drums while calling for measures that would make housing more accessible to ordinary residents.

The rally followed police operations over the weekend to dismantle protest camps in Lisbon and Porto. Officers used batons during the clearances, while police dogs were also present, prompting allegations of excessive force from housing activists.

Police reported injuries during the operations, while the activist group Casa para Viver, meaning “Homes to Live”, said about 60 people were hurt. Portugal’s internal affairs watchdog opened an inquiry, and prosecutors launched a separate investigation into police conduct.

Protesters are also demanding that the government withdraw proposed legislation that would make evictions easier and remove rent caps on new rental agreements. The bill has passed its first parliamentary reading, with the far-right Chega party abstaining.

The scale of the housing problem has become increasingly difficult for many Portuguese households to manage. According to figures cited by the Associated Press, housing costs in Portugal rose by 147 per cent between 2015 and 2025, among the steepest increases in the European Union. The country’s national statistics agency also reported that house prices rose by almost 20 per cent between the first quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026.

In Lisbon, a one-bedroom apartment can cost around €1,500 a month, while Portugal’s monthly minimum wage is €920 before tax, according to the Associated Press. The disparity has left many young people struggling to move out of their family homes, rent independently or save towards buying property.

Residents and housing campaigners have pointed to several factors behind the rising costs, including strong demand from foreign buyers and investment funds, tourism and the conversion of residential apartments into short-term holiday rentals. Critics argue that these pressures have made it harder for local residents to find homes they can afford.

The government has introduced measures including tax reductions intended to encourage new construction, restrictions on short-term rentals and a pledge to build 145,000 homes. However, the impact of these measures is unlikely to be immediate, leaving affordability a pressing concern for renters and prospective homeowners.

President António José Seguro has convened a Council of State meeting to discuss the protests, while Prime Minister Luís Montenegro defended the police response, saying officers acted according to the principles of necessity and proportionality.

The demonstrations in Portugal reflect wider housing concerns across Europe, where high rents and property prices have fuelled protests in several countries. For demonstrators in Lisbon, the central demand is for policies that make secure and affordable housing a realistic prospect rather than an increasingly distant goal.