Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in Portugal on Saturday, joining a broader European wave of protests against the rising cost of living and a deepening housing crisis. The rallies, organized by the CGTP union federation alongside housing rights groups, were held in Porto, Coimbra, and Lisbon under the slogan: “Higher wages, better pensions, and public services. Against the rising cost of living. A new course for Portugal!”
The demonstrations reflect a continent-wide frustration as inflation, fuel prices, and a shortage of affordable housing squeeze household budgets. From France to Albania, citizens are voicing their anger, and Portugal is no exception.
Porto: A week of housing protests culminates
In Porto, the march began at Praça da Batalha around 10:30 am and was due to end at Praça D. João I, where housing protests have been held throughout the week. Organizers emphasized the grassroots nature of the movement. “We are continuing with our people's assembly, with the backing of ordinary citizens, independently of any party. People come from different groups, but we are not institutionally tied to any of them. This outcry is the result of abuse of authority and a way of saying 'enough of this crisis',” Pedro Manuel, one of the protest organizers, told reporters on Friday.
The housing crisis has been particularly acute in Porto, where police cleared a protest camp earlier this week, leading to reports of injuries. The incident has only intensified local anger.
Coimbra and Lisbon: A united call for change
In Coimbra, the rally started outside Portugal dos Pequenitos and was expected to end at Praça 8 de Maio, in front of the city hall. A CGTP spokesperson told SICN on Saturday morning: “Faced with the rising cost of living, housing and fuel, even a basic shopping basket has reached an exorbitant price.”
In Lisbon, thousands were expected for a march scheduled to start at 14:30 local time, from Cais do Sodré to Rossio. The mayor of Lisbon, while acknowledging the cause as “just,” urged that protests remain “within the law.”
The Left Bloc's José Manuel Pureza told the Associated Press: “There are those who want to drag us into debating other issues. But what people are demanding that we discuss is the right to housing for everyone. Those whose rent is getting ever more expensive, those whose mortgage is increasingly hard to fit into the family budget. That is what we are talking about, that is why people have been protesting, always peacefully.”
Union leader warns of 'brutal increase' in prices
CGTP general secretary Tiago Oliveira told the Lusa news agency that the demonstrations were a response to the “brutal increase” in housing prices and the cost of living. He also highlighted the growing “degradation of public services” and called on citizens “to fight against the government's policies.”
The protests come as similar demonstrations have swept across Europe. In France, nationwide protests over living costs turned violent on Saturday, with clashes between protesters and riot police. In Spain, Madrid's Puerta del Sol housing protest has endured for two weeks, and in Albania, Tirana protests have entered a third day, with the prime minister accusing foreign actors of fuelling unrest.
The European-wide unrest underscores a growing disconnect between political elites and ordinary citizens, who feel left behind by economic policies that prioritize markets over people. As the cost-of-living crisis deepens, the pressure on governments to address housing affordability and wage stagnation is mounting.
In Portugal, the protests are a clear signal that the government's policies are being challenged from the streets. Whether these demonstrations will translate into policy changes remains to be seen, but the message is unmistakable: Europeans are demanding a new course.
