Head of Portuguese housing institute questions youth sacrifice, backs down after outcry

Benjamin Pereira, president of IHRU and former mayor of Esposende, said he did not know "whether today's society is willing to make the level of sacrifice" that earlier generations did. The official recalled that his own grandparents emigrated "so they could have a home," drawing a comparison between the hardships of the past and those of the present.

The statement provoked immediate backlash. The supervising minister requested an explanation, and the opposition—notably the Socialist Party, the Left Bloc and Livre—did not hold back in their criticism. Young people also reacted with outrage to the IHRU president's remarks.

In a second statement, Benjamin Pereira clarified his position, admitting that he was not "happy with all the expressions" he used. According to the official, he never intended to downplay the problems young people face in accessing housing.

The IHRU president stressed that "at no point did I say that young people" cannot cope with the difficulties, seeking to distance himself from interpretations of his initial remarks. He also said he understands the demands of protesters.

In a third position, Pereira said that "one cannot demand the sacrifices of yesteryear from young people," backing down further from the initial tone of his observations about whether younger generations are willing to make the effort necessary to buy a home.

The situation prompted requests for clarification in Parliament, where the opposition intends to delve deeper into the IHRU president's remarks and their implications for housing policy.