Police clear housing protest camps in Lisbon and Porto, minister defends the force

Dawn operation in Lisbon and Porto

Shortly after 04:30 on Sunday, 1 November, the Public Security Police (PSP) moved against demonstrators camped in Lisbon and Porto, ordering them to disband, removing their tents and detaining 13 people. In Lisbon, officers charged with petards and batons, and the Praça D. Pedro V was empty within minutes as protesters were driven out through the access routes onto Rossio. In Porto, police dismantled the camp on Praça D. João I, advancing with batons and dogs and pushing people back to Rua Dr. Magalhães Lemos. Protesters shouted that their action was peaceful as the officers moved forward. The camps were part of the protests over housing.

Injury counts and the firearm incident

Casualty figures differ between reports. JN describes a police charge that left 40 people injured in Porto and six in Lisbon, while Expresso and Observador cite 13 injured police officers. Observador adds that the organisers counted more than 50 protesters hurt. According to a PSP statement, a four-officer plainclothes team monitoring the Avenida dos Aliados in Porto was spotted by a group of protesters, and three of the officers were assaulted. PSP spokesperson Sérgio Soares said one of the plainclothes officers drew his firearm as the protesters approached. The Acampada do Porto disputes that account, saying the four civilians tried to isolate vulnerable protesters around 05:15. Minister Luís Neves said he had no concrete information on the firearm yet, but any use of a weapon must be justified and formalised.

Minister defends the operation

Interior Minister Luís Neves spoke to reporters in Marinha Grande, where he said nobody likes seeing the footage. He blamed a small fringe of protesters for repeatedly flouting the law by putting up tents that could not remain as they were erected. He argued that the first police action had not been violent and tied the escalation to the protesters' conduct:

On who gave the order, he said it would be a poor state of affairs if a political decision were needed for police to enforce the law, and that the PSP has full technical, tactical and operational autonomy. He also said the state's firmness could not be blocked, and that parliament is where rights legislation is passed:

“It is in Parliament that all legislation on rights, freedoms and guarantees is approved.”

Neves added that there cannot be blockages to the firmness of the State, and he said the injured officers were a reason for the force used.

Political pressure and a legal complaint

Socialist Party secretary-general José Luís Carneiro demanded that Neves appear urgently in parliament to explain how the operations were planned and carried out, calling the use of disproportionate force unacceptable. According to Expresso, Carneiro also argued for a government reshuffle, and the PS said it will summon the minister to parliament. Neves said Carneiro had every legitimacy to question him. Asked whether he had offered his resignation, Neves said his post is permanently at the disposal of Prime Minister Luís Montenegro. Lawyer Ricardo Sá Fernandes, who represents protesters in the Lisbon camp, announced a criminal complaint against the minister and the national director of the PSP, and Neves said he was ready to give explanations to parliament or the judiciary.