In a statement released today, the Socialist Party (PS) district of Aveiro asserted that only a victory for the socialists in the forthcoming early legislative elections would ensure the removal of tolls on the A25. This response follows comments made by the Social Democratic Party (PSD) leader, Luís Montenegro, on Sunday, where he indicated that the issue of the toll gate on the A25 in Aveiro was not forgotten.
“I haven’t forgotten the matter of the toll gate on the A25,” stated PSD leader during the introduction of the coalition PSD/CDS/PPM’s candidate for the Aveiro Chamber.
Montenegro, heading the AD – PSD/CDS coalition’s legislative candidate list for the Aveiro district, stressed that he had previously acknowledged that the tolls “make no sense,” but his intention is to address all cases with similar characteristics nationwide.
The contention revolves around the maintenance of three toll gates at the beginning of the A25 (two within the municipality of Aveiro and one in Albergaria-a-Velha), which are part of a concession not covered by the legislation that abolished toll payments on major interior and Algarve expressways known as SCUT.
On Monday, the PS district reaffirmed its commitment to the complete removal of tolls on the A25 as a way to reduce the burden on populations dependent on these roads, while also aiming to boost the region’s economic and social development. The PS emphasized that they are the only party committed to abolishing this “aberration.”
“The PS included in its program the extension of toll exemptions on the entire A25, unlike the PSD/CDS coalition program, which completely ignores this demand from the Aveiro region,” stated a press release signed by Hugo Oliveira, the president of the PS district and third on the list of PS deputies’ candidates for the Aveiro district.
The continued presence of tolls on the A25 in the Aveiro region has sparked indignation among local officials and residents. It led to a horn-honking protest on Europa Avenue in Aveiro last Friday, organized by the Public Services Users Movement (MUSP).
Pedro Frazão, leading the candidate list for Chega in Aveiro, participated in the protest, asserting that the tolls should indeed be abolished and describing the situation in Aveiro, where citizens remain “held hostage and surrounded by tolls that continue to be paid,” as a disgrace.
“The Parliament approved, yet the State does not comply because it is hostage to the highway concessionaires,” stated Pedro Frazão, urging votes for Chega to enforce the parliamentary motion from June 2024 to “halt tolls on the former SCUT.”
Although Chega has not publicly disclosed its electoral program, Pedro Frazão confirmed to Lusa that this measure is included in the document.
Mário Lopes, the Liberal Initiative deputy, who is once again at the top of the party’s list for Aveiro in these elections, also advocates for the removal of toll gates on the A25. He noted that although his party voted against toll exemptions and supports the user-pays principle, the equitable application of this measure across the entire highway makes sense.
“If such a measure moved forward, it should be applied uniformly across the whole highway without excluding some toll gates. This situation is profoundly unjust for the inhabitants of this district,” Mário Lopes stated.
The Liberal Initiative deputy also clarified that this measure is not part of the party’s Government program because this document “focuses on measures of national scope that affect the entire territory.”
