Thousands Protest Outside Portugal's Parliament Over Deepening Housing Crisis

Thousands of people have gathered outside Portugal’s Parliament in Lisbon to protest a deepening housing crisis, with soaring rents and property prices putting homes beyond the reach of many locals. Demonstrators, many of them young people, demanded affordable housing and condemned police action against previous protests in the capital. Housing costs in Portugal rose 147% between 2015 and 2025, among the steepest increases in Europe, while rents have climbed 68% since 2020, according to government figures. Foreign investment, tourism, short-term rentals and demand from remote workers have added pressure to the market. President António José Seguro has convened a Council of State meeting to discuss the protests as housing affordability becomes a growing concern across Europe.