Participants from across the country gathered, undeterred by the threat of rain, to join a protest organized by the Student Association Movement, which consists of associations from dozens of higher education institutions.
By 3:15 PM, over half an hour after the protest began and under heavy rain, they departed Rossio in Lisbon, heading towards the Assembly of the Republic, where the State Budget proposal for 2026 (OE2026) will be voted on today.
“Tuition is meant to end, not increase,” “Yes to scholarships, no to tuition,” and “Everything increases, so does the fight,” are some of the chants echoed by the students, well-known phrases reflecting longstanding issues that students claim are worsening with the announcement of tuition fee thawing for the 2025/2026 academic year.
