Protesters “had several opportunities to avoid what happened”

O cDS Member João Almeida reacted this Sunday at a press conference held in Porto to the intervention of the Public Security Police (PSP) during the early hours in the cities of Lisbon and Porto on those camped by the right to housing.

“[CDS] Reaffirms that in democracy and a rule of law there are principles from which one cannot dispense: The law, order, authority of the state and certainly the right to demonstration. The cause of housing is certainly a legitimate cause. There are many Portuguese who are currently suffering to find a dwelling and to be able to pay their rent. It is not a problem now, but it is a problem that deserves attention and has deserved the attention of this government”, he started by saying.

According to João Almeida, “this is why last night’s demonstrations deserve the attention of the CDS and respect for the thousands of protesters who were on the street during the afternoon in a peaceful and peaceful way”.

“ So there was no incident to record either. Different thing is what happens at night, it is no longer the first time, with illegitimate occupation of the public space, with damage to public and private heritage ", said, adding: “ There were appeals to violence, to end the police, the courts and even the media. That is not acceptable in a rule of law. Therefore, things such as tracks that turned out yesterday to appeal to a European intifada cannot pass.”.

“ So, the police acted with weight, for four hours respected everything that the law and the guidelines imply – the dialogue, the attempt to dissuade the protesters and the appeal to comply with the law. This was done with protesters, politicians on site and protesters’ lawyers. It is only after several hours and several appeals that the intervention took place, in the face of disobedience and radicalism of those who did not comply with the police instructions and who even assaulted those agents who were on the ground. Cops are also people, they have their families at home watching these events and concerned about their physical integrity and the fulfillment of the mission they are performing. We certainly regret what happened on the protesters' side, but it is very important to emphasise one thing: the protesters were on the ground by their will and had several opportunities to avoid what happened. The police were on the ground because of an obligation to comply with the law and could by no means avoid what happened“, stressed the centrist.

In a political note, he said that the CDS sees “with great concern” the reaction of the Secretary-General of the Socialist Party.

“José Luís Carneiro was part of a government that substantially worsened the problem of housing in Portugal, so he has direct responsibilities in what we are living at the moment. He was Minister of Internal Affairs and during that time the police had interventions in everything similar to what happened this morning, cannot be irresponsible and now deny what happened in the past. The Portuguese begin to realize one thing: the PS wants to be an alternative, but would be hostage to the extreme left and the street, without any authority and without any political direction. If that is so, the CDS is convinced that the Portuguese do not prefer this alternative ", finished.

It should be remembered that in the police charge at dawn today, in which the PSP advanced almost simultaneously on the demonstrators concentrated in the camps in Lisbon and Porto to demobilize, removing tents, 13 people were arrested, six in Lisbon and seven in Porto, with several wounded.