Hundreds of people set up tents on Saturday night, October 17th, D. João I Square, in the city of Porto, where a week ago there was a protest for “more and better housing.
© Lusa
18/10/2026
by
Lusa
Npraça D. João I, in Porto, there are already more than 50 tents set up by people who, since Saturday, claim “more and better housing”.
After the movement for housing decided today to re-mount tents and camp at the site, protesters of all ages began to assemble tent rods, open sleeping bags and put pillows on the floor.
In some of the more than 50 tents that occupy the square, placed in queues, one reads in posters phrases such as “Four laces, plus collateral, more guarantor and more kidney” or “luxury income and ordered garbage”.
Moments before 12:30, next to the square where the action takes place, some garbage cans were burned, which forced the fire department to intervene, which quickly extinguished the fire.
While unwinding a sleeping bag, 25-year-old Maria Leonor told Lusa that she decided to camp because the housing problem affects everyone.
“It is a cause of all, not only of young people,” he said.
Asked if she is not afraid to spend the night on site, Maria Leonor, who will share the tent with three other friends, confessed some anxiety, but feel safe.
Next door neighbor Jessica, 34 years old, also new in this experience, said that she decided to camp to “make herself heard” and that the Government of Luís Montenegro should take an attitude in favor of people and not economic groups.
“ I already knew about the movement, had already come to one of the demonstrations, but what happened in the early hours of Thursday [police intervention] brought more people and caused more revolt ", pointed out.
Besides the protesters who are going to camp there are still those who, despite understanding that decision, came only to participate in the protest.
“ I will not stay because I have a small son and I can not, but who stays has all my solidarity ", pointed Roberto Lopes, 39 years old.
In addition to the tents and hundreds of people who paint D. João Square I still have posters with criticism of the words of the Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, who this week asked the associative movements and political parties that are not selfish in their action.
“Million-dollar incomes and the penniless people”, “Whoever does not know how to govern will always try to shut up” or “These politicians do not represent us” were some of the messages displayed on card posters and carried by protesters.