Portugal’s Livre party says it is willing to negotiate with the government on solutions to the housing crisis, while calling for what it described as serious dialogue built on common ground. Party spokesperson Isabel Mendes Lopes made the remarks on Tuesday during a visit to a nursery in Lisbon, speaking to Lusa and RTP.
Her comments followed an invitation from Infrastructure and Housing Minister Miguel Pinto Luz, who had said he was open to discussing housing proposals with Livre. Mendes Lopes said dialogue should also take place in parliament, but argued that the government must be prepared to negotiate rather than impose measures that, in her view, worsen the housing problem.
The government has submitted a legislative authorisation proposal to parliament to change the urban rental regime. Mendes Lopes said this makes it difficult to amend the proposal in detail during the parliamentary review process, which she said needs a shared basis for work.
Livre is prepared to discuss the need for more public housing and support for the cooperative housing sector, she said. Mendes Lopes also criticised the government’s proposed rental law, calling it “cruel” and highly damaging to tenants. She argued that it would not achieve the government’s stated aims or increase confidence in the rental market.
She also defended demonstrations for the right to housing, saying they involve people and families of different ages and political backgrounds because housing affects everyone. Mendes Lopes warned political figures against fuelling polarisation and said the government should acknowledge its mistakes over the protests and consider changing course.
Her remarks came after Lisbon’s Administrative Court ruled on Sunday that a 00:30 cutoff for demonstrations was not absolute or automatic, allowing one demonstrator to remain overnight in a tent at Rossio Square.
Sources: Observador.