Leaders from several political parties voiced their concerns during a protest in Lisbon, as Lisbon’s streets from Chiado to Rua Augusta saw hundreds rally under the sweltering sun. These statements were delivered by Isabel Mendes Lopes from Livre, Paulo Raimundo of the PCP, and Mariana Mortágua from the Left Bloc.
The demonstration was organized by the Casa para Viver platform and supported by various associations, including the housing rights movement ‘O Porta a Porta’.
An unusual moment unfolded as the general secretary of the PCP was addressing reporters and was interrupted by a visibly upset woman, complaining about her eviction last August 31.
“I should have received 200 euros in rent support, but I only got 93 euros. I was robbed. I have a chronic illness and am not working full time. My situation is terrible,” declared the woman, who stated she is 57 and currently resides in Sesimbra. She criticized the media broadly, urging them to “stop pandering to capital and start listening to the people.”
Following her statements, Paulo Raimundo embraced the woman and remarked to the journalists: “These are not just stories, they are lives.”
Prior to this incident, the PCP’s general secretary addressed the growing issues of housing access and the “struggles people face with unbearable rents or payments.”
“There is another reality, too, that has intensified: the reality of banking profits and real estate fund gains. Banks are making millions daily at the expense of this sacrifice,” he criticized.
The government’s housing measures are exacerbating housing prices
Just before the demonstration commenced, Livre’s spokesperson, Isabel Mendes Lopes, described the situation as “a true housing emergency in Portugal.”
“Notably, the current government has not prioritized necessary actions to tackle this severe problem. Housing prices have reached record highs, rental costs continue to soar, and the availability of homes is dwindling,” she stated.
The Livre parliamentary leader pointed out that the prime minister, Luís Montenegro, did not address housing in his inaugural speech, and during the parliamentary discussion of the government’s program, the housing minister, Miguel Pinto Luz, remained silent on the issue.
“This indicates that the government does not prioritize housing and the measures taken have worsened housing prices,” she asserted. She noted that the government is unwilling to use the Housing Emergency Fund, a measure secured by Livre in the 2024 Budget, which allocates 100 million euros annually to prevent people from losing their homes.
Bold measures are needed to confront the crisis, yet the government focuses elsewhere
Mariana Mortágua, from the Left Bloc, spoke about the proliferating promises of construction that “do not arrive in time for those currently without a home.”
“Bold measures are imperative to address the crisis of our lives, but the government is preoccupied with other matters. Today, people cannot afford rent or buy a house. Generations are either fortunate to inherit homes or excluded from housing rights. This is the major cause of poverty in the country,” argued the Left Bloc coordinator.
She suggested a dual approach in terms of measures: “Lowering buying and rental prices.”
“This means rent caps, maximum limits, as recommended by the European Commission. Moreover, it involves addressing the tourism and local accommodation excesses, and discussing the empty houses in our country,” she concluded.
She also critiqued the political right, including the Socialists, saying:
“We see no action from the government, and we know that, even from the right-wing parties who align with the PS in the Assembly, there are no bold and determined measures to definitively reduce housing prices,” she added.
