PCP and Free require government to drop rent law

AND. statements to journalists, Communist Miguel Tiago argued that the government should “get in touch with organizations” of the protest “to find answers” to housing problems.

“ Being a real problem, what is needed is a political solution,” he said, considering that “we deserve to censor any kind of force to solve a real problem.”.

For the CFP, he said, the first condition for dialogue should be the government withdraw what it classified as the “law of evictions”, referring to the legislative process that aims to change the law of rents, which is in the specialty in the Assembly of the Republic.

For the MP leader of Livre, Isabel Mendes Lopes, “the basis of dialogue is the withdrawal of this law from the lease”.

“ This law must fall, then we can talk about measures to increase housing,” she said, considering that the government has said it is willing to dialogue but in practice “dialogue is nonexistent”.

As for possible police intervention to disperse demonstrators who decide to stay in Rossio, with their tents, beyond the authorized time, Isabel Mendes Lopes said that fear exists, but any violent intervention will be unacceptable.

“It’s not the way in Portugal you deal with democratic protests,” he said, admitting to bringing the issue back to the President of the Republic.

For Catarina Martins, BE’s MEP, “it is best not to repeat mistakes”, referring to the police load on demonstrators in Rossio last week.

The former coordinator of the Left Block pointed out that protests have taken place “22 consecutive days” for the right to housing, claiming to be “very proud in this country that is fighting”, which “shows the gravity of the crisis”.

“And that’s what has to be answered,” he said, stressing that, in addition to “not allowing a government law that will worsen hell in housing”, we need to end the tax privileges of real estate funds and impose rent ceilings.

Thousands of people started shortly after 17:00 from Largo Camões towards Rossio, Lisbon, to claim the right to housing, a week after a great demonstration that also brought together many protesters on Avenida da Liberdade.

In Rossio it is expected another night of camping, with tents, a goal reaffirmed to Lusa by Feijó, one of the spokespersons of the Lisbon Camp, despite the intentions already reiterated by the PSP not to allow it.

The resistance to this order of the PSP will depend on the will expressed by the protesters, he added.

In a block, the protesters went down Largo do Chiado, bypassing the esplanade area to then reenter Garrett Street, following to their destination.