Unrest in Portugal mirrors protests sweeping Europe

Thousands of protesters returned to central squares in Lisbon and Porto on Tuesday, vowing to continue their campaign against Portugal's deepening housing crisis hours after police cleared tent camps before dawn and arrested 55 people.

Activists had occupied Lisbon's Rossio Square since Saturday, erecting around 200 tents, while Porto's Dom Joao I Square had been occupied for 10 days.

The camps mirror housing protests in neighboring Spain and coincide with wider unrest over living costs and public services erupting in France, Belgium and Italy.

In France, authorities extended localized curfews after the country's worst rioting in years over the weekend led to more than 2,400 people being arrested and nearly 1,000 security personnel injured.

Italy's government deployed 500 soldiers to Milan and approved tougher penalties for riot-related offenses after protests descended into looting and clashes with police.

In Spain's capital Madrid, activists remain camped out after nearly four weeks of protests that have contributed to political turmoil and prompted a snap general election for Nov 29.

The common thread is economic pressure — rising fuel and energy prices, unaffordable housing, stagnant wages and deteriorating public services — though the triggers and government responses have varied.

French authorities extended curfews in several cities and towns, including parts of Paris, on Tuesday night after restrictions on Monday night helped restore calm. The southern city of Nice extended its restrictions through Sunday.

France's Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu on Tuesday promised a "massive" security deployment for Saturday as "Yellow Vest" activists and students prepare new demonstrations.

Lecornu was due to meet representatives of five major unions on Wednesday to discuss protecting the right to protest while preventing a repeat of the past weekend's violence and looting, Agence France-Presse reported. The unions have called separate strikes and rallies for Nov 5.

Facing angry lawmakers in Parliament on Tuesday, Lecornu acknowledged the government's response to the chaos had been inadequate and promised a stronger approach.

Far-right candidate Marine Le Pen, who leads polling for next year's presidential election, called the unrest a "wake-up call" exposing a "profound crisis" of authority. Lecornu blamed "ultra-left radical groups" for pursuing an "insurrectionary plan".

Lawmakers agreed on Tuesday to launch a parliamentary inquiry into possible intelligence failures and the government's preparedness.

jonathan@mail.chinadailyuk.com