Portuguese police clear Lisbon and Porto housing camps, arresting 31
Police cleared more than 100 tents in Lisbon and about 50 in Porto before dawn on Sunday, arresting 31 people, according to the Portuguese police. The police called the operation proportionate; campaign group Casa Para Viver said more than 20 people were injured, while police reported 11 injuries. Protesters oppose a bill that would make evictions easier and end rent caps on new leases.
Bottom line — Portugal’s housing bill has passed its first parliamentary reading, and campaigners have called another protest for Wednesday.
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The Portuguese police said they removed 171 structures across the two cities.
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Al Jazeera reported that 25 people arrested in Lisbon were released and ordered to appear in court on Monday.
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The Bank of Portugal estimates the country is short of 300,000 homes, according to Al Jazeera.
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House prices in Portugal have more than doubled since 2017, while rents for new leases have nearly doubled, Al Jazeera reported.
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Campaigners say the proposed bill would make evictions easier and remove rent caps on new leases.