The housing protest movement known as A Acampada do Porto has declined an invitation from the city mayor to hold a public meeting. Although the municipal authority offered to discuss the possibility of occasional camps at council spaces, the movement stated in a letter that it is currently prioritizing care and legal follow-up for members detained during police intervention on November 1. The group clarified that this refusal was decided in an assembly and does not constitute a rejection of institutional dialogue, but rather a respect for their collective deliberation processes. Despite declining the specific meeting, the movement welcomed the mayor's availability to prepare a public action at the Rivoli.
In response to a recent ruling by the Lisbon Administrative Court, which recognized the legitimacy of using tents as protest symbols, the Portuguese Public Security Police (PSP) confirmed it will comply with the decision. PSP spokesperson Sérgio Soares stated that the police have always allowed protesters to maintain a symbolic number of tents in squares, provided no other fundamental rights are violated. He noted that while this option was offered during negotiations in both Lisbon and Porto, including late-night discussions on November 1, the protest organizers did not accept the proposal at that time.
Simultaneously, the State Council concluded a five-hour meeting focused on social cohesion and housing issues. The session, convened by President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, ended at 20:01 with former President Aníbal Cavaco Silva being among the first to leave. While most council members exited without making comments, adhering to protocol, a formal communication regarding the discussions is expected to be released shortly.
In other news, the Portuguese Association of Distribution Companies (APED) reported that a cyberattack affecting cold chain systems has impacted seven Intermarché supermarkets in Portugal. Gonçalo Lopes Xavier, APED's director-general, confirmed that while four stores suffered no damage to merchandise, three others experienced total loss of goods due to the attack occurring overnight. This incident is part of a broader wave of cyberattacks affecting supermarket chains across Europe, including in Belgium, Luxembourg, and Sweden.
Locally, the closure of the Eco footwear factory in Santa Maria da Feira will result in 632 job losses, as announced to workers during a meeting on November 2. In transport news, the railway line between Caldas da Rainha and Torres Vedras is scheduled to reopen on November 15 following recovery works by Infraestruturas de Portugal, though the section between Mira Sintra-Molestas and Torres Vedras remains suspended due to damage from Storm Cristi. Additionally, the first application of the Well Liv concept was completed in Amadora with a project of 48 hybrid housing units, and Matosinhos is set to host a week of urban rehabilitation events at the former Vasco da Gama Canning Factory.
Sources: Observador.