In plenary, opposition to the Government prevented changes to the mobility subsidy, which reimburses a large part of air travel costs for residents of the Azores and Madeira, both on flights to mainland Portugal and to the other autonomous region. He refused to allow travelers to have to prove the absence of debts with the Federal Revenue and Social Security. In the debate scheduled by the socialist bench due to revolt with an electronic platform that forced tax regularization on island citizens to have access to refunds, even the CDS-PP, a Government partner, asked for a “better future assessment”, although voting alongside the Government.
Voting was done in general and will continue for the specialty. Taking into account that this opposition alliance has a direct impact on the State’s accounts, the document may become unconstitutional.
Criticism of the change in the mobility allowance gained strength with the proposed law approved by the Regional Legislative Assembly of the Azores that demands payments independent of their situation before the Tax and Customs Authority. On the part of the Madeira Regional Assembly, it was stipulated to revoke the tax and contributory conditions, also applying that “the social mobility subsidy evolves into an island resident tariff, based on a maximum price for residents”, highlighting its greater “predictability.” In these, Chega, Liberal Initiative, PS, PAN, JPP, Livre, PCP, Bloco de Esquerda and deputies from the PSD’s autonomous regions voted in favor of the proposals.
In Chega’s proposal, which provides for compatibility with the “essential function” of the subsidy, “avoiding conditions” that translate into disproportionate restrictions, André Ventura’s party, the PS, the Bloco de Esquerda, the JPP and the regional deputies of the PSD voted in favor.
The CDS-Madeira has already admitted to resorting to “all judicial and European instances” to enforce the principle of territorial continuity, following the vote on proposals to change the social subsidy for air mobility, this afternoon, in the Assembly of the Republic. In a statement, the regional structure, led by José Manuel Rodrigues, makes it clear that it does not agree with the position taken by the deputies of the PSD-CDS majority, considering it a “centralist stance” and “harmful to the rights of the Portuguese on the islands”.
Criticism of the legislative change, to which the regional governments of the Azores and Madeira were no strangers, also resulting from coalitions between PSD and CDS – and with the PPM, in the first case -, led to the entry into force of the rules being suspended. Although the Government of the Republic defends that the changes bring benefits to residents, limiting the cost to 59.50 euros for one-way trips to the Mainland (and 119 euros for round trips) for residents of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, and to 39.50 and 79 euros, respectively, for residents of the Autonomous Region of Madeira, the president of the Madeiran regional government, Miguel Albuquerque, spoke at a “stigma” thrown at residents of the islands and labeled as “offensive” the statements made by Luís Montenegro, who defended the obligation to have no debts with the Tax Authorities and Social Security. The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, also expressed doubts.
The Government was not represented in a debate that lasted two and a half hours. Hugo Soares, parliamentary leader and general secretary of the PSD, responded, highlighting that the topic is of particular importance to the PSD. “This issue concerns everyone because it is with our taxes that we are supporting, and rightly so, the autonomous regions. The PS never did anything when it was in Government, the PSD was the one who did the most for the islanders”, he attacked, expressing that the opposition was lying when saying that “proof of non-debt” was necessary.
Carlos Pereira, PS deputy, a Madeiran elected by the Setúbal constituency, said that Hugo Soares was trying to “put the Portuguese against other Portuguese” and stated that the Social Democrat lied, when he returned to the PS days, in 2005, declaring that the subsidy had existed since then.
Pedro Pinto, parliamentary leader of Chega, also criticized Hugo Soares: “He insinuated that Madeirans and Azoreans don’t work by accusing us of being against subsidization”.
The other parties have always spoken of the need for prolonged territorial cohesion. Jorge Pinto, from Livre, agreed with a simplification platform, but criticized the lack of structural vision across the country. Like the PCP, it considered that island citizens are among the most “harmed” by prices and inflation. And that’s why they asked for the non-existence of “discrimination.” “There can be no gateway to luxury,” declared Fabian Figueiredo, from Bloco de Esquerda. Filipe Sousa, from JPP, has always highlighted that he is against the values attributed, considering, at other times, “alms” from the Government and recalled that he proposed “responsible and fairer” measures.
João Almeida, from CDS-PP, explained the favorable vote. “We are comfortable taking this position because we have always defended the best application of territorial continuity. It is difficult to have this position, but it is clear. It has to be matured and evaluated”, he said, criticizing socialist governments.
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