Vala Rocha accuses court of making "mockery of the police"

Sofia Vala Rocha, a PSD municipal deputy in Lisbon, criticized the Administrative Court's ruling allowing a housing protester to camp in Rossio, claiming it undermines police authority. The court's decision permits Renata Cambra to camp until November 24, 2026, during which she must maintain order and cleanliness. Rocha argued that this ruling leads to absurd outcomes, equating protest tents with illegal housing structures. She emphasized that the Lisbon Municipal Assembly represents the people, dismissing civic assemblies. Her comments sparked mixed reactions from the audience. Protests against housing issues began in Porto and spread to Lisbon, demanding changes to rental laws and more public housing. Recent police actions to disperse camps resulted in injuries and prompted inquiries from the President of the Republic.