Choir sings outside President Seguro's home, demanding he speak on housing protests

A symbolic serenade at the president's door

On the evening of 26 October, about 30 members of the Coro Social do Bairro gathered outside the house of President António José Seguro in Caldas da Rainha, where he lives, and sang for several minutes. The choir, which is artistically directed by maestro Tiago da Neta and includes people of all ages, described the act as a symbolic one meant to push the head of state toward a public position. Reports say the singing began around 22:00, was partly spontaneous and took place on a rehearsal day, and passed without incident. A police officer at the door was reported to have said he had liked it very much.

Francisca Venâncio, a member of the choir, told Lusa that the performance aimed to draw attention to housing as a problem that is not confined to the big cities:

“Like other people, we think there needs to be a word, an opinion, from the President of the Republic, given what we are seeing happen.”

Songs demanding a response

The repertoire included the José Mário Branco song 'Eu Vi Este Povo a Lutar (Confederação)' and the song 'Acordai'. The choir also sang lines from a declaration read by protesters at the Rossio in Lisbon, which call on the president to show his face and break his silence. Notícias ao Minuto and Jornal das Caldas describe the lyrics as more direct and critical of Seguro's conduct. The lines ask the president to speak up and leave his house for the streets, squares and camps.

Protests and police charges

The housing camps began in Porto on 10 October and later spread to Lisbon, Faro, Leiria and Braga, according to Notícias ao Minuto. Police charged protesters in the early hours of Sunday, 25 October, at the Rossio in Lisbon and at Praça D. João I in Porto. SAPO reports that at least 33 protesters were injured in the charge against the camps, and Notícias ao Minuto reports dozens injured and detained in Lisbon. On Monday, 26 October, the Inspeção-Geral da Administração Interna opened a process into the police interventions.

The president's silence

Since the protests began, Seguro has called for compliance with the law and for an understanding between government and opposition on urgent and lasting housing measures, SAPO reports. Beyond that, the reports say little more from the president on the protests or the police charges. Members of his honour committee and parties on the left have criticised his silence, according to Diário de Notícias. Notícias ao Minuto notes that the protests have lasted more than 15 days with no sign of a position from him.

What comes next

On 27 October, Seguro was due to visit the European Maritime Safety Agency in the morning. Later that day he was scheduled to attend the closing of a session marking 50 years of the European Investment Bank Group in Lisbon. None of the four reports describes a response from the president to the choir.