Suryaa International Desk: Protesters in Portugal's capital city of Lisbon against a growing housing shortage and skyrocketing rents... Portuguese police forcefully evacuate a protest camp in Portugal's capital Lisbon against a growing housing shortage and skyrocketing rents. A fierce scuffle broke out between the police and the demonstrators in order to remove the tents set up by the protesters in the center of the city. In this incident, many protestors were detained by the police and some were slightly injured.
Common people, especially the youth, are facing serious problems due to the rising cost of living and skyrocketing house rents in the capital city. Thousands took to the streets to protest against parliamentary support for a bill aimed at lifting rent caps on new leases and making it easier to evict residents from their homes. In this order, the protestors set up more than a hundred tents on the main streets and continued their agitation even at night. Local opposition leaders and rights groups have strongly objected to the police taking this action.
It was criticized that it was inappropriate for the police to use extra force to attack people who were peacefully protesting. However, the police sources have defended that these steps have been taken to avoid disruption to public life in the city. There are indications that social unrest will intensify across Portugal as the housing shortage worsens.
