An open letter titled “On the Demolition of Principles and Shacks” has been launched by a group of individuals affiliated with the Socialist Party (PS). Promoters of the letter indicate that it has already garnered about 100 signatures.
The initial signatories include former Education Minister João Costa, former government officials and current deputies António Mendonça Mendes, Frederico Francisco, and deputy Isabel Moreira, among others.
“We watch with dismay the demolition of the roofs over dozens of families, authorized by PS mayors, without first ensuring the protection of these families now driven to homelessness. We thus express our profound indignation and concern. We witness the end of the line—from the unsanitary and precarious shelter of a shack to the street,” they condemn.
For these socialists, demolishing shacks “without providing alternative, adequate, and immediate housing solutions” contradicts “constitutional and statutory principles” and “tarnishes the credibility and ethical commitment that PS should uphold before its citizens.”
“We call for coherence: socialist policy begins with people, never against them. We urge the mobilization of PS structures to reflect on these practices and consistently defend the values that define us. We want a PS that is truly an instrument of social transformation, justice, and solidarity—not just in words, but especially in action,” they challenge.
Among the first subscribers to this letter are also former MEPs Margarida Marques and João Albuquerque and former officials Rosa Monteiro, Catarina Marcelino, and António Leite.
“The right to housing is enshrined as a fundamental right of all citizens, as well as the duty of the state to promote conditions for the realization of this right, ensuring decent and accessible housing. It is also the obligation of the state and local authorities to ensure social protection and support for those in situations of greater vulnerability,” they argue.
The signatories further mention that the declaration of principles of PS guides “the defense of social justice, inclusion, and solidarity,” which they consider to be “fundamental values” that should guide the political actions of socialists.
“The fight against inequalities and the promotion of a fairer society, with proximity policies that respect human dignity, are non-negotiable imperatives,” they emphasize.
The local government of Loures, led by Socialist Ricardo Leão, commenced the demolition of 64 precarious homes, inhabited by 161 people, at the Talude Militar on Monday.
The Lisbon Administrative Court provisionally accepted an injunction filed by a lawyer representing 14 residents of the neighborhood.
The court acknowledges “a situation of special urgency,” ordering immediate and expedited notification of its decision, while noting that “the precautionary process is an urgent matter,” granting the municipality a period of 10 days to contest the decision “without prejudice to the ruling.”
