Thousands of demonstrators marched through central Lisbon on Saturday, October 17, 2026, joining a coordinated national protest against soaring living costs and a severe housing crisis that has left many workers unable to afford basic shelter.
The mobilizations unfolded across Lisbon, Porto, and Coimbra, bringing together trade unionists, young professionals, and retirees under the national banner of the CGTP labor confederation. Protesters demanded higher wages, rent controls, and increased public housing investment to combat an economic squeeze driven by inflation, which reached 3.6% in September.
CGTP Demands Wage Hikes and Price Controls at Lisbon Rally
Marching from Cais do Sodré to the historic Rossio square, the CGTP demonstration targeted government economic policies and stagnating wages. Speaking to crowds in the capital, the secretary-general of the CGTP, Tiago Oliveira, criticized the administration for failing to grasp the financial pressures facing ordinary citizens while large corporations report record profits. The secretary-general of the CGTP asserted that the authorities do not understand the struggles of people living on a salary of 1,000 euros while facing steep rental payments.
Monday brings a new Photo of the Week to our main page: CGTP members were a large proportion of the thousands who marched through Lisbon on 10 October to demand peace in the Middle East and in solidarity with the Palestinian people. (Photo:CGTP) pic.twitter.com/uhzZsIUQyO
The union’s platform calls for raising the national minimum wage to 1,100 euros by 2027, implementing a general 15% salary increase, and establishing price caps on essential goods and fuels. Ahead of the events, the CGTP leader stated that the country would witness a major national demonstration and a strong display of combativeness, noting that strike notices had been issued in sectors including commerce, services, and entertainment.
Housing Activists Pitch Tents in Rossio After Porto Clashes
As the CGTP march concluded in Lisbon, housing movement participants launched an Acampada pela Habitação
protest in the Rossio, erecting dozens of tents around the statue of D. Pedro IV. The action directly mirrored weeks of demonstrations in Porto, where activists had occupied Praça D. João I before a police operation dismantled their camp early Thursday morning.
In Porto, demonstrators returned to the square on Saturday evening for a mass popular assembly, voting nearly unanimously to pitch tents again overnight in defiance of earlier police intervention. Cristiana Leal, a spokesperson for the Porto housing movement, characterized the week of mobilization as the awakening of a people despite encountering resistance from authorities. The march in Porto began at Praça da Batalha around 10:30 before proceeding to Praça D. João I, where participants concluded their route.
In Lisbon, protesters faced similar warnings from municipal authorities regarding overnight stays, but chanted slogans such as I’m not leaving here, and nobody is dragging me away from here
while occupying the plaza into the evening. Activists also directed sharp criticism at Luís Montenegro, pointing to comments he made earlier in the week concerning certain associations and referencing a contentious government rental law.
Rent Pressures and Regional Protests Highlight National Crisis
The protests underscore an acute affordability crisis across Portugal, where property prices and new rental contracts have more than doubled since 2017. Young professionals and researchers testified that salaries and research grants fail to cover skyrocketing housing costs, forcing many to spend major portions of their income on rent or remain living with their parents.
Beyond Lisbon and Porto, the unrest extended to Coimbra and Faro, where approximately 200 people rallied at the city entrance to protest high real estate prices in the Algarve region. Organizers in Faro, led by Afonso Horta, signaled plans to expand the campaign with a larger demonstration scheduled for November 14.