Thousands of people took to the streets in Portugal on Saturday to protest rising living costs, demanding higher wages, improved pensions, affordable housing and better public services.
The demonstrations were organised by the General Confederation of Portuguese Workers (CGTP), with rallies held in Lisbon, Porto and Coimbra amid growing concerns over the cost of living and access to decent housing.
In Lisbon, protesters marched from Cais do Sodré towards Rossio Square, led by CGTP Secretary-General Tiago Oliveira and union members carrying banners calling for higher wages and improved living conditions.
The demonstrators chanted slogans against low pay and rising rents while displaying placards urging the government to implement policies that would make housing more accessible and affordable.
Organisers also scheduled the establishment of a housing protest encampment at Rossio Square for 5 p.m. local time, equivalent to 1500 GMT, as part of efforts to draw attention to the housing crisis.
In Porto, several thousand people marched from Praça da Batalha to Praça D. João I, demanding better wages, stronger pension provisions and improved public services.
About 100 young housing activists joined the procession, carrying placards and a tent symbolising their campaign for affordable accommodation.
The activists received applause as they arrived at the square, where the gathering extended onto surrounding pavements.
Housing movement spokesperson Cristiana Leal said the campaign would continue until living conditions improved. A public assembly was scheduled to take place at the square at 7 p.m. local time, or 1700 GMT.
The demonstrations followed a police operation early Thursday that brought a housing protest encampment in Porto to an end, drawing renewed attention to tensions surrounding housing activism and the authorities' response to public demonstrations.
Socialist Party leader José Luís Carneiro expressed solidarity with the protesters while calling for demonstrations to remain responsible and peaceful.
He also urged security forces to ensure that any use of force was appropriate and proportionate.
Carneiro called for clarification of the circumstances surrounding Thursday's police intervention, which is being examined by the General Inspectorate of Internal Administration.
The protests underscore mounting concerns over affordability, particularly wages that protesters say have failed to keep pace with rising housing costs and other household expenses.
By organising demonstrations across several cities, unions and housing activists sought to pressure authorities to adopt measures addressing wages, pensions, housing access and public services.
The organisers said their mobilisation would continue as they pressed for improvements in living conditions.
