The government issued warnings and called for restraint, yet the Parliament approved several toll exemptions on Wednesday against the Executive’s wishes, through a negative coalition. What is at stake? Let’s break it down.
Government warnings
The day began with the government stressing that the state budget is not a “mere repository of sectoral claims” and warned of potential proposals to abolish tolls, which were set to be voted on later, with an impact of over 100 million euros annually.
“It cannot be a melting pot of a sort of legislative stone soup where each party contributes its handful of bills, pouring them into the same pan, without regard to coherence“, “the hierarchy of priorities”, and the “capacity to finance these measures”, emphasized the Secretary of State for the Budget, José Maria Brandão de Brito.
Brandão de Brito urged the opposition to refrain from pushing proposals that would financially burden the budget further, but the appeal was insufficient.
New developments in toll exemptions
The Parliament approved two proposals to exempt the entire A25 Costa da Prata and Beiras Litoral e Alta, and sections of A6 and A2 in Alentejo from tolls.
As for the A25, exemption extends “throughout” the motorway, as per the norm approved during the state budget 2026 (OE2026) specialized voting.
Part of A25 initially entailed no costs for users, yet “a small section remained with toll charges, prompting this initiative to rectify the inconsistency, eliminating tolls across the A25”, justified the socialist bench.
In the case of A6 and A2, the exemption applies solely to residents and businesses headquartered in specific “areas of influence” along these motorways.
The exemption pertains to A6 segments between the A2/A6/A13 junction and Caia, as well as A2 from the A2/A6/A13 junction to Almodôvar.
Exemption is facilitated “via an electronic device linked to the vehicle’s registration”, according to the PS initiative.
Additionally, Parliament greenlit a PS amendment to OE2026 exempting heavy vehicles from tolls on the Porto Outer Ring Road (A41) and in parts of A19 and A8 in the Leiria region.
Following the measure’s approval, the government is tasked to conduct a study by the end of 2026 on traffic flow on motorways around Porto’s metropolitan area to “assess the effects of potential toll collection changes on alleviating road congestion, particularly on Porto’s Inner Beltway, including introducing partial exemptions on A41 CREP, relocating existing toll points on A4 between Matosinhos and Maia, or using variable rates”.
Until this study concludes, “toll collection on A41 CREP for heavy vehicles is suspended“.
Concurrently, the government must carry out another study, also by 2026’s end, “regarding the potential adverse effects of road traffic on the Batalha Monastery, proposing necessary mitigation measures”.
Until the analysis is complete, “toll collection for heavy vehicles using A19 between São Jorge and Leiria South (A8/A19 junction) and A8 between Leiria South (A8/A19 junction) and Pousos” is suspended.
