Hundreds of people demand a house in Porto to live

Varias hundreds of people were, by 3:00 p.m. today, concentrated in the square of the Marquis, in Porto, to participate in the demonstration for the right to housing, called by the Platform House to Live.

Among those present are members of the Porto camp, a movement that took place on October 10, in Praça D. João I, a struggle for the same reasons that are at the base of today's demonstration and that will end, about 17:00, in the square where dozens of tents are set up.

In statements before the start of the demonstration, Raquel Ferreira, from the platform, expressed the desire that this be “the greatest manifestation ever made in Porto, gathering thousands of people”, admitting, however, that the scenario, around 14:30, was far from that horizon.

Asked about the weight of Porto’s struggle to other cities in the country, the platform spokesperson admitted that there was “a awakening of conscience even by the police charge that happened and that everyone realized that it was completely disproportionate, unwarranted and that it goes against everything that the Constitution defends”.

“ We believe that this also served to make people more motivated to join this fight,” continued Raquel Ferreira.

On the outcome of the meetings of the Prime Minister with the PS and the Enough to try to find solutions to the housing problem, as well as the reception by the President of the Republic on Friday, the responsible expressed different opinions, when questioned if the lack of results in the meetings in St Benedict brought disappointment and if, from the audience in Bethlehem brought illusion.

“ I'd say it's not a disappointment the first part. Since we cannot expect much more from those parties that have gathered together. What is required at this moment is for the parties, in this case the ER, to take a concrete position and effectively defend the interests of the people. We must not forget that the PS, when it had an absolute majority, did nothing or, on the contrary, also helped aggravate the housing crisis ", replied.

Regarding the meeting with the President of the Republic, Raquel Ferreira pointed out that António José Seguro “does not have the power to decide, but it is expected that he will have a firm position and that if he has to take a position, he will take it to defend the interests of the Portuguese people”.

More than 30 cities in Portugal go out today for the “right to live”, within the scope of the national demonstration called by that platform, which requires the reversal of the new rental law, among other measures.

“They will not rob us of the right to live” is the common motto of the 32 protests for the right to housing that will take place in Angra do Heroísmo, Aveiro, Beja, Braga, Bragança, Castelo Branco, Caldas da Rainha, Coimbra, Covilhã, Évora, Faro, Funchal (morning concentration and afternoon demonstration, Grândola, Guarda, Guimarães, Horta, Leiria, Lisbon, Marinha Grande, Nazaré, Ponta Delgada, Portalegre, Portimão, Samora Correia, Santarém, Setúbal, Sines, Torres Novas, Viana do Castelo, Vila Real and Viseu.

To the housing policies adopted by the Government, Casa Para Viver, a platform that brings together a hundred associations and collectives for housing and has already mobilized thousands of people on the streets on several dates, over the last three years, counterproposes more regulation: of rents, contracts, evictions, return homes, local housing, property speculation.