Thousands of people took to the streets in Portugal once again to demand more affordable housing.
The streets of Lisbon's historic center filled with protesters holding signs criticizing the government of Prime Minister Luis Montenegro and calling for more housing.
One-bedroom apartments in Lisbon routinely rent for 1,500 euros ($1,668) a month in a country where the minimum monthly wage earned by hundreds of thousands of Portuguese workers is just 920 euros ($1,023) before taxes.
Rental prices have also climbed significantly, recording a 68% increase since 2020, according to the government.
The government has responded with measures including tax cuts for new construction, restrictions on short-term rentals and a pledge to build 145,000 new homes, although it acknowledges the effects will not be immediate.
Infrastructure development funding is expected to become scarcer in 2027 as financing under the European Union's post-COVID-19 economic recovery program ends this year.
Portugal has not seen the scale of violence, arson and looting witnessed in some other European countries, although protesters have complained about heavy-handed policing during the removal of tents erected in city squares. Authorities are evaluating whether the use of batons and police dogs was excessive.
(Source: AP)
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