Merchants in Lisbon's Baixa district are ready to engage in dialogue with representatives of the local housing protest camp to address the compatibility of the demonstration with the planned Christmas Market at Rossio Square. Manuel Lopes, president of the Associação de Dinamização da Baixa Pombalina, stated on Monday that while he doubts the feasibility of both events sharing the same space simultaneously, he remains open to finding a consensus. Lopes emphasized that the Christmas Market is vital for local commerce, attracting tens of thousands of consumers, and warned that its cancellation would result in total financial loss for the district.
The conflict arises after the Lisbon Administrative Court ruled on Sunday that the standard 00:30 curfew for demonstrations is not absolute. The court authorized a protester, Renata Cambra, to maintain a tent at Rossio Square until November 24, 2026, which coincides with the scheduled final vote on the 2027 State Budget. The ruling permits the protest to continue between 00:30 and 06:30 but mandates that it be coordinated with the Christmas Market, which is set to open to the public on November 13 and close on December 21.
According to the court's decision, if coexistence proves materially unfeasible, the Lisbon City Council must provide an alternative nearby location for the protest that preserves its visibility and symbolic meaning. The judgment also ordered the Public Security Police (PSP) and the Municipal Police of Lisbon to refrain from dispersing or removing the protester as long as she adheres to the court-decreed conditions. Lopes clarified that his association does not oppose the movement's demands but is concerned about security, noting that some shops were forced to close for hours on Saturday due to safety fears. The court specified that its ruling addresses a specific legal protection request and does not validate collective occupation of public space or establish a general right for an indeterminate number of participants to set up tents.
Sources: Observador.