Police remove tents from Porto housing protest camp, demonstrators stay in square

Police clear the camp at dawn

Protesters had camped since Saturday, 10 October, in Praça D. João I in central Porto, after a demonstration of about 1,500 people against the cost of living and housing. At about 06:30 on Monday, 12 October, officers from the Polícia Municipal and the PSP arrived at the square to remove the tents. Reports give between about 50 and 60 tents, depending on the source. João Silveira told Lusa that the tents began to be taken down peacefully at 08:00, while other accounts said police removed the tents by force while protesters were still dismantling them. Some protesters formed a cordon to protect their belongings, and the group eventually gathered its materials and accepted the order to leave.

The council's justification

The Porto city council, led by Pedro Duarte, said the camp had been occupying public space illegally. In a statement, the council said:

The occupation of Praça D. João I through the installation of a camp was assessed by the competent entities and security forces, who must act in accordance with the law, not allowing the illegal occupation and degradation of public space.

The council described the operation as a joint action by the PSP, the Polícia Municipal and the municipal company Porto Ambiente to remove objects occupying public space. It said it respects the right to protest but considers that public space must be used within the law. A PSP spokesperson, as quoted by the Bloco de Esquerda, acknowledged that the Saturday demonstration had been notified and was legal, but argued that once the tents went up the camp became unlawful because it lacked authorization. Police also told Jornal de Notícias that the assembly had not been notified 48 hours in advance, which they said constitutes disobedience, though no police action was expected unless public order was disturbed.

Protesters stay in the square

At an assembly that began at 19:30 on Monday, the PSP counted about 200 people in the square, while Jornal de Notícias put the number at about 250.

The assembly decided at 21:05 that protesters would spend the night in the square. The Bloco de Esquerda and Livre expressed solidarity in the morning, and the unions of call centre workers and of health and social security joined the evening meeting. Activists accused the mayor of betrayal. Movement spokesperson João Silveira told Lusa that the group would not leave:

They removed the tents, but we are going to stay here, peacefully and orderly, as we have until now.

Bloco de Esquerda questions the legal basis

The Bloco de Esquerda sent a question to the government through the Ministry of Internal Administration asking who decided the removal and on what 'legal basis' the tents and belongings were seized. The party argues that Article 45 of the Constitution guarantees peaceful assembly in public places 'without the need for any authorization'. It also cites Decree-Law 406/74 of 29 August, which requires only prior notice to the mayor. The party argues that municipal police cannot replace the qualified police authorities that interrupt demonstrations under the Internal Security Law, and says the official explanations vary.

What comes next

The movement plans to ask the council for formal authorization to resume the camp and hopes to put the tents back up on Wednesday, 14 October, in the same square. A popular assembly is set for 19:00 that day, which organizers want to open to unions, associations and people facing housing problems. The platform 'Não dá mais para viver assim' has also staged protests in Aveiro, Braga and Lisbon.