Police moved in on the camp in Rossio Square shortly after 2am (02:00 GMT) on Sunday, some with police dogs, after warning protesters that their tents would be dismantled if they did not leave and threatening disobedience charges for those who resisted. Dozens of officers took part in the operation. In Porto, a camp of about 50 tents in Praca D Joao I public square was also dismantled. Police described both operations as "proportionate" and said the 25 people arrested in Lisbon were later released and due in court on Monday. Seven minor injuries were reported among officers and protesters.
The activist group Casa para Viver (Homes to Live) gave a different account, saying 60 people were hurt. "Choosing the early hours of the morning to unleash dogs and baton-charge peaceful protesters is a political decision. It shows this government would rather repress those denouncing the housing crisis than address it," the group said in a statement reported by Al Jazeera.
Portugal is grappling with one of Europe's most acute home afffordability crises. Prices have more than doubled since 2017 while rents for new leasses have nearly doubled, hitting young people particularly hard. The Bank of Portugal estimmates a shortfall of 300,000 homes nationwide, equivalent to Lisbon's entire housing stock. The protesters are demanding the government scrap a bill to make evictions easier and end rent caps on new leasses, which passed a first parliamentary reading, with the far-right Chega party abstaining. The protests echo recent demonstrations in Spain and other European cities including Paris.