Thousands Protest Rising Housing Costs in Portugal

Thousands of people demonstrated across Portugal on October 11, expressing anger over soaring housing costs that have made home ownership and renting increasingly unaffordable for ordinary citizens. The protests were concentrated in major cities including Lisbon and Porto, where real estate prices have surged driven by tourism and foreign investment. Demonstrators called on the government to introduce rent controls, build more social housing, and regulate short-term rentals platforms like Airbnb. The housing crisis has become one of Portugal's most pressing social issues in recent years.