Following the resignation of the Socialist Prime Minister António Costa, an early parliamentary election will take place in Portugal on March 10th. The housing shortage is a central election campaign issue.
“It is important that our governments understand that housing policy needs to change fundamentally,” said 27-year-old nurse Rita Branco, who cannot find her own apartment and therefore continues to live with her parents. The rally was called by an alliance of various organizations that had already organized two days of action against the housing crisis in recent months.
Despite Costa’s government taking action against foreign speculators in the Portuguese housing market, the housing crisis has worsened in recent months, according to non-governmental organizations. As a result, many families had to move away from the city centers. The increase in the key interest rate by the European Central Bank (ECB) is making it more difficult for less wealthy house and apartment owners to repay the loans for their home.
