CUVI | Elimination of tolls on Via do Infante: the triumph of Justice in the Algarve!

A Via do Infante Users Committee (CUVI) warmly welcomes the approval, by an overwhelming majority of deputies in the Assembly of the Republic, on the 2nd of May, of the proposal that dictates the elimination of unfair and erroneous tolls in the Algarve, implemented on the 8th of December 2011 by the PSD Government /CDS with the support of PS. The current Government parties, PSD and CDS, continue to betray the Algarve, but were defeated in Parliament. Chega, who announced that he would vote alongside the AD, did a pirouette and changed his voting direction, fearing that he would disappoint his voters.

We will finally have a Toll-Free Algarve – for which the Users’ Commission fought so hard – after almost 13 years of ordeal that devastated the region and whose consequences were very harmful and tragic for many families: hundreds of victims, including deaths and injured in the thousands of road accidents that occurred on the EN125 (not yet fully reclassified), one of the most dangerous roads in the country and considered the “road of death”; mobility in the region has regressed for more than 20 years and economic, social and territorial inequalities have worsened; the Algarve has lost economic competitiveness in relation to neighboring Andalusia; many companies went bankrupt and unemployment increased; many users, because they were unable to pay tolls, subjected themselves to hellish traffic for hours on end on the EN125; others saw their meager income reduced by toll tax payments; the private concessionaire, through a PP that was ruinous for the State, saw its pockets filled with large tens of millions of euros at the expense of the taxpayers, which is all of us.

The main responsible for this entire tragedy and setback for the Algarve were the PS and PSD. Over the years, these two political forces failed dozens of proposals to eliminate tolls on Via do Infante presented by other parties, mainly by the Bloco de Esquerda and PCP. In fact, António Costa promised in 2015 to end tolls in the Algarve, but he left and never fulfilled the promise given to the Algarve. Your Government also refused to comply with the stipulations of point 8 of Resolution of the Assembly of the Republic no. 50/2020, of June 19, resulting from a Draft Resolution presented by the Left Bloc and approved by a large majority – “the suspension of tolls on Via do Infante”. The PS is now seeking to redeem itself for its performance in Parliament and in the Government. But, better late than never!

With the approval of the elimination of tolls on Via do Infante, Justice triumphed in the Algarve! The approval of the elimination of tolls was only possible due to the struggle of the Algarve, users and its populations. The Algarve and the people of the Algarve are to be congratulated. Congratulations are also due to CUVI, as since its creation in 2010 it has not stopped and has undertaken many struggles and other initiatives, a persistent and determined struggle for 14 years and over 6 Governments with the aim of putting an end to tolls in the region.

The Via do Infante Users Committee carried out: many dozens of slow marches and honking horns on the EN125, the A22 and over the Guadiana International Bridge; numerous meetings and debates with the Civil Government, Municipal Chambers, AMAL, NERA and other social, business and trade union entities; 2 Petitions were presented to the Assembly of the Republic with thousands of signatures; 2 Algarve-Andalusia Forums were promoted; human cordons and marches on foot took place; 3 Anti-Toll Platforms and 2 Regional Manifestos were created involving the Motorcycle Club of Faro, the Movement with Faro in the Heart, the “Algarve – Tolls on the A22 No” Movement, USAL/CGTP and other regional entities; a Portuguese-Spanish Cross-Border Anti-Toll Commission was set up involving CUVI; “sieges” occurred during the summer at the holiday homes of the 1st Minister and the President of the Republic; There were many dozens of press conferences held. Many other initiatives were promoted by CUVI, some involving Spanish users and the Ayuntamiento of Ayamonte.

The Users Committee warmly thanks everyone who, through their action and struggle, contributed to a Toll-Free Algarve. But the fight is not over yet. CUVI will remain vigilant and will not rest until the final law is approved to end tolls in the Algarve once and for all, with some speed, even in the current legislative session, “don’t let the devil do them”.

CUVI will continue to demand that, as soon as possible, the first toll-free day in the Algarve takes place and is signaled with a loud horn along the entire route of Via do Infante.

CUVI