At the conclusion of the Council of Ministers meeting, António Leitão Amaro addressed the urgent request from the Loures City Council to the prime minister for a meeting aimed at defining joint solutions for challenges that municipalities face in housing and illegal land occupation.
Loures and Amadora municipalities, in the Lisbon district, have initiated demolition operations this week for illegal precarious housing built by residents, housing over 100 people.
Without directly addressing the meeting with Luís Montenegro, the minister stated that “there are several channels of dialogue between the Government and various municipalities,” including Loures.
“Despite the primary responsibility lying with the municipalities, the Government is open to dialogue with municipalities, including Loures,” he stated, indicating familiarity with the concerns of the socialist mayor, Ricardo Leão.
The Minister of the Presidency advocated that, in the case of Loures and other municipalities, “there is a very difficult balance to be sought” between finding solutions for families’ housing issues and adhering to the law.
“What is important is that, as a society, we bring together all levels of Government and society and strive to find solutions that can meet human needs while never giving up living in a rule of law where rules are enforced,” he stated.
Loures commenced a demolition operation on Monday for 64 houses, where 161 people reside, at Talude Militar, having demolished 51 structures on the first day. On the second day, an additional four were demolished before operations were suspended by order of the Lisbon Administrative Court, following an injunction filed by 14 residents.
In Amadora, on Estrada Militar da Mina de Água, at the old Santa Filomena neighborhood, a total demolition of all 22 illegal structures, home to about 30 adults and 14 children and youths, is planned. According to the municipality, eight constructions have already been demolished.
