This Monday, the Portuguese Taxpayers Association (APC) criticized the PS’s proposal to eliminate tolls, approved by Parliament, stating that this elimination amounts to transferring the costs of the infrastructure in question from users to taxpayers.
“The said ‘”abolition” only means the transfer of the cost of construction and maintenance of the sections in question, from users to taxpayers,” says the APC in a statement sent to the editorial staff.
The association chaired by Paulo Carmona does not comment on the political framework of the vote on the measure, but regrets that parties and commentators use the term abolition as “if with this vote we, all taxpayers, stopped paying for it.”
Last Thursday, Parliament generally approved the PS bill to eliminate tolls on the ex-SCUT with the votes in favor of the socialists Chega, BE, PCP, Livre and PAN, the abstention of IL and the vote in against the PSD and CDS-PP.
PD (with Chega’s vote) ends tolls in the ex-SCUT. The Government warns that “someone will have to pay”
The PS proposal – the only one that was approved – aims to end tolls on the A4 – Transmontana and Túnel do Marão, A13 and A13-1 – Pinhal Interior, A22 – Algarve, A23 – Beira Interior, A24 – Interior Norte , A25 – Beiras Litoral and Alta and A28 – Minho in the sections between Esposende and Antas and between Neiva and Darque.
According to the socialists, the measure has a budgetary impact of 157 million euros.
The APC criticizes that the parties assume the popularity of the measure among users, without mentioning the burden that it has had on those who do not use these roads, including those who do not have a car, and it is even strange that the parties that have always positioned themselves ” against the use of the car”, they have now voted in favor of this measure “that encourages its use”.
“This continued way of referring to the end of tolls, as if the measure were positive for the Portuguese, distorts reality, increases fiscal illiteracy and prevents the debate that we regret does not exist on whether the cost – of using the road or of other services – must be supported entirely through taxes, or also by the user-payer,” highlights the civic association.
The APC also regrets that the Government criticizes the vote on the project due to the impact it may have on the collection of “its accounts”, forgetting that “the real losers” are the taxpayers.
In this context, it calls for the message to be reinforced that there is no “abolition of tolls”, but rather “a transfer of the costs of construction and maintenance of the motorway sections in question”.
The APC is considered a non-partisan association that aims to rebalance the relationship between the State and taxpayers, helping to ensure that “taxes are transparent, clear and easy to understand in their purpose for the common good.”
Among the members of its bodies are the names of Daniel Bessa, João Vilalobos, António Nogueira Leite, Diogo Feio, Carlos Lobo, Cecília Meireles or Luís Leon.
Source: Observadora
