The Lisbon camp movement today accused the government of preferring batonadas to solve the housing crisis, after the Minister of the Interior assumed political responsibility in police interventions early on Sunday.
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30/10/2026
by
Lusa
O camped movement of Lisbon today accused the government of preferring batonadas to solve the housing crisis, after the minister of the Internal Administration has assumed political responsibility in police interventions on Sunday morning.
“ That is quite a demonstration that this government prefers the batonadas to solve the problem of the housing crisis and to dialogue with people who legitimately fight for the right to be in public space and to demand government measures for the housing crisis”, told Lusa João Veloso agency, one of the spokespersons of the Lisbon camp, during the 14th day of camp, in Praça de D. Pedro IV, in Lisbon.
By 8:00 p.m., about a hundred people were concentrating on Rossio, some were singing and playing percussion instruments and others were sitting and talking.
At a hearing in the context of the discussion in the specialty of the proposal of the Government of the State Budget for 2027 (OE2027), the Minister of Internal Administration, Luís Neves, admitted “political responsibility” in the police intervention in the camps of Porto and Lisbon.
For João Veloso, Luís Neves’ decision “is revealing that the government has no answers to solve the problem of the housing crisis”.
“ It is quite revealing, he assumes that he was in contact with the police and given the action that the police had, I think it is quite revealing of government policy for those who defend the right to housing ", lamented.
To Lusa, João Veloso recalled the last police charge in Rossio:
“It was horrible. For hours, people were chased by Lisbon. People with their heads open had to go to the hospital for treatment. More than 25 people were injured. I find this attitude regrettable and outrageous.”.
Last week, PSP dispersed to the batonada and using dogs the demonstrations for the right to housing in Lisbon and Porto, after more than two hours of tension and orders for people to leave and tents to be removed.
The protests for the right to housing began on October 10 in Praça D. João I, in Porto, and in Lisbon on October 17 in Praça de D. Pedro IV, with tension with the police that does not allow the tents to stay overnight in these squares.
The first police charge took place in Porto on October 15.

