The Lisbon City Council has proposed three alternative locations for the ongoing housing protest camp known as Acampada, aiming to balance the demonstration with the city's upcoming Christmas market. The municipality, led by Carlos Moedas, identified Largo de São Domingos, Praça do Martim Moniz, and Restauradores as viable alternatives to the current site in Praça do Rossio. In a statement, the council emphasized its commitment to maintaining dialogue with all parties to find a balanced solution that respects local commerce, civic participation, and public space traditions.
Despite these proposals, the organizers of the Acampada movement have rejected the suggestion to vacate Praça do Rossio. Renata Cambra, one of the movement's leaders, met separately with city officials and local merchants but maintained that the protest should remain in its current location. Instead, the group has proposed that the Christmas market be moved to a different site, arguing that this approach would safeguard both the continuity of the demonstration and the interests of small business owners.
In related political developments, Paulo Muacho, a deputy from the LIVRE party, dismissed claims that left-wing parties are instrumentalizing the housing protests. Speaking at the Parliament, Muacho stated that while the protests are inherently political, they should not be reduced to partisan agendas. He highlighted the role of various political forces in forming a human chain during recent police actions and criticized the interpretation of laws governing demonstrations, suggesting they have been distorted by political will rather than legal ambiguity.
Meanwhile, the Porto City Council rejected a proposal from the Socialist Party (PS) calling on the government to end violent interventions against housing protesters. The motion sought to express concern over an authority agent displaying a weapon during early morning operations. Pedro Duarte, the president of the Porto municipality, justified the rejection by noting that a previous recommendation had already been approved to request an investigation by the Ombudsman regarding police actions in Praça do João I.
At the national level, an urgent debate on police conduct requested by the Communist Party (PCP) failed to gain consensus. The CDS party opposed altering the parliamentary calendar to accommodate the discussion, preventing the session from taking place as scheduled. Other parties either supported the change or did not respond within the 24-hour deadline set by the Assembly President.
Separately, Civil Protection authorities reported that the wildfire situation in the Viseu and Guarda districts has stabilized. The fire, which spread across several municipalities including Fornos de Algodres, Guarda Beira, and Penava do Castelo, is now under more controlled conditions. João Rodrigues, commander of the Sub-regional Emergency and Civil Protection Command for Beiras and Serra da Estrela, noted that while an active front remains approximately 700 to 800 meters long on steep terrain, wind conditions have improved, allowing for better intervention opportunities. Approximately 400 operational personnel supported by over 100 vehicles are currently deployed at the scene.
Sources: Observador.