Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa emphasized the urgent need for a comprehensive and lasting solution to housing issues, to avoid merely “patching up” problems without addressing the root causes. His comments were made during the 50th-anniversary celebrations of the Diocese of Santarém.
The head of state stressed the importance of identifying the people affected, questioning whether they work, contribute financially, or how long they have been living in precarious housing.
Portuguese citizens “would like to have a clear understanding of the number and severity of these situations, whether they can be globally resolved, within a metropolitan area or a group of municipalities, and whether the solution is sustainable for the future or just a temporary fix,” remarked Rebelo de Sousa. These comments were in response to inquiries about the ordered demolition of precarious homes in the Talude Militar neighborhood of Loures, Lisbon District.
The Loures City Council, led by Socialist Mayor Ricardo Leão, commenced the demolition operation on Monday, targeting 64 precarious homes in Talude Militar, displacing 161 residents, including children and the elderly.
On that day, 51 homes were demolished, with an additional four demolished on Tuesday. However, the operation was halted following a Lisbon Administrative Court order, responding to an injunction by a lawyer representing 14 neighborhood residents, leading to a temporary suspension of further demolitions.
The Attorney General’s Office confirmed today that an inquiry into the matter has been launched.
