Presidential candidate Luís Marques Mendes declined to comment on the demolitions taking place in Lisbon, particularly in Loures, stating, “I will not speak about the issue of demolitions. I do not have the information today to allow me to have an opinion on this.”, he told journalists.
In Lumiar, he noted that his visit was unrelated to the ongoing demolitions, highlighting that he wanted to focus on the opposite subject, namely housing cooperatives.
“In other words, building homes, constructing houses more affordably than usual – because the council provides the project and the land. A cooperative is selected through a public tender. As many councils in the country have land and can approve projects, this is a way to help solve the housing crisis,” he stated, arguing that while this might not be the only solution or the most decisive one, it is still important.
“Today I wanted to concentrate on this aspect positively,” he added.
When asked whether the housing issue had not been on the agenda in recent times, Marques Mendes said, “I think the housing issue has been on the agenda for quite some time. It was in the previous government and is now, but it will increasingly shape the agenda. There’s housing, just like in Health and other areas, everyone has the right to make the criticisms they see fit. But it is also becoming urgent to bring solutions, present solutions, challenge with concrete solutions.”
The Loures City Council confirmed on Monday the demolition of 64 self-constructed homes in Bairro do Talude Militar, affecting 161 residents, clarifying that the police operation there was conducted under municipal command.
“The Loures City Council will not permit the construction and continuation of these shanty structures within the municipality,” stated councilor Paula Magalhães (PS), responsible for the Municipal Police.
Speaking to Lusa and Antena 1, the mayor of Loures explained approximately 200 meters from the entrance to Bairro do Talude Militar, where the demolition of huts is in progress following notifications sent to residents last Friday by the municipality, located in the Lisbon district.
“They were notified with the 48 hours that the law requires,” noted Paula Magalhães.
The demolition operation in Bairro do Talude Militar, ordered by the Loures municipality, commenced at 12:00 PM after police forcibly removed residents gathered at the site to prevent the demolition.
Faced with resistance from the residents, police reinforcements were deployed, with members of the Rapid Intervention Team of the Public Security Police intervening with batons to disperse the residents, resulting in one person being dragged on the ground.
Contacted by Lusa, Ana Ricardo, the spokesperson for the Lisbon Metropolitan Command of the PSP, indicated that the operation in Bairro do Talude Militar is the responsibility of Loures City Council and the Municipal Police, with this security force only providing support.
“Our objective is solely to maintain public order,” emphasized the spokesperson, explaining that authorities “initially encountered significant resistance,” necessitating an “order to disperse.”
