Traders concerned about the economic impact of the camp. “Insecurity”

Othe traders of Baixa de Lisboa are afraid that a troubled Christmas season may lead to the closure of several companies and dismissal of people, a representative told Lusa.

Vice-President of the Union of Trade and Services Associations (UACS), Jorge Nuno Sá, I told Lusa today that “the absence of a normal Christmas season can lead to an economic crisis in this area, the unemployment of several people and the closure of several companies”.

The same source also stated that “the camp is bringing objective damage to the commerce of the city of Lisbon, namely Baixa”.

Questioned by Lusa, Jorge Nuno Sá believes that there is a climate of insecurity in that area of the city, preventing the free movement of people, which leads the population to avoid the fall of Lisbon.

“ This is reflected in jobs, in the living conditions of a number of staff, we have here the commercial fabric of downtown, are small, medium and micro-enterprises, with a family index of one, two, three employees, and these people can even see their jobs threatened ", asserted.

“ So we are adding to a legitimate problem that can be discussed, which is housing, a social crisis and an economic crisis in this area of the city,” he added.

The UACS will meet with the mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Coins, on Monday, to discuss the issues related to the effects of the camp in downtown Lisbon.

The current protests against the housing crisis began in Porto on October 10 and expanded to Lisbon, but have also motivated concentrations in other cities.

The PSP's action to disperse the campgrounds and remove the tents in Rossio, in Lisbon, and in Praça D. João I, in Porto, led to dozens of arrests and caused dozens of wounded, motivating criticism from various quadrants.

The protesters demand, among other issues, the reversal of the new rental law, a stop to housing acquisition by real estate funds and “truely accessible” roofs to income.