A court in Lisbon allowed activist Renata Cambra to put up a tent in Rossio on Monday, but the ruling did not lead to a new overnight encampment in the square. At the 17th popular assembly, protesters voted to stay overnight on Tuesday; Cambra left at about 1:50 a.m., and her tent was later taken down by other demonstrators.

The gathering included a concert that turned into karaoke, as well as chants calling on Prime Minister Luís Montenegro to address housing and wages. Priscila Valadão, a spokesperson for the Lisbon encampment, thanked supporters for their backing during 17 days of protest and said the movement also intended to address salaries, war and the cost of living.

Protesters voted to seek a meeting with President António José Seguro after his office indicated it was willing to receive representatives from the Lisbon and Porto encampments. No date has been set. They also agreed to visit Pátio da Quintinha in Lisbon’s Beato district on Thursday, where residents have been asked by a court to provide evidence supporting their occupation of homes, and to create a coordination group between the two encampments.

Cambra said the court decision protected the protest as a whole, not only her own right to set up a tent. The Interior Ministry said after the ruling that only Cambra was authorized to pitch one. She argued that the decision made the seizure of tents under the decree used by authorities illegitimate, and said the court required passageways to remain clear for pedestrians and emergency vehicles.

Three tents were set up near the statue of Pedro IV, including Cambra’s. The square gradually emptied after the assembly, leaving a few dozen people. Cambra departed at around 1:50 a.m.; the remaining demonstrators then dismantled her tent.

In Porto, protesters also voted to stay overnight. A green tent was first set up in Praça D. João I, followed after 12:30 a.m. by a group bringing supplies and additional tents. In total, 13 tents were erected, along with a small cardboard house bearing the message “more housing, fewer batons.” The demonstrators later removed the tents after 4 a.m., according to the account, while the movement disputed the police spokesperson’s description of how officers had handled requests to clear the square.

Sources: Observador.