en 
Miguel Pinto Luz told the Lusa agency that “it is clear that the Government will comply with what was decided by the Assembly of the Republic”.
“In a democracy, this is how it has to be, there is no other way to do it.”
In May, Parliament approved the Socialist Party's bill to end tolls on the ex-Scut from 1 January, 2025.
The proposal covers interior highways or roads where there are no alternatives that allow quality and safe use.
The bill passed with votes in favour from PS, BE, PCP, Livre, Chega and PAN and the abstention of the Liberal Initiative (IL). PSD and CDS voted against.
Seven months later, and just a few days before the measure came into force, the Minister of Infrastructure recalled today that the government “already signalled that it was not in agreement with the solution”, but added that the State Budget for 2025 foresees “the funds to be channelled to Infraestruturas de Portugal due to the loss of revenue”.
A month ago, in the Assembly of the Republic, the same minister had classified the abolition of tolls on interior highways and without alternative routes as “unfair and poorly thought out”.
At the time, he announced his intention to carry out a national study on all tolls, without indicating a date or the entity responsible for the study.
The government official also added that the end of tolls on old motorways at no cost to the user “will cost the State around 180 million euros per year in lost revenue”, with between 20 and 25 percent of the vehicles that circulate on these roads “being foreigners".
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What does 25-25 percent of the vehicles using the toll roads "being foreigners." have to do with tolls? Do they not understand that these foreigners bring not only toll revenues but are here spending money in Portugal!
By Anthony from Algarve on 05 Dec 2024, 10:17
Would you please explain CLEARLY are you going to withdraw the tolls on Via Infante A22 or not and, if so, WHEN??
By Eero Noukkala from Algarve on 05 Dec 2024, 10:49
I just got my Via Verde receipt for the month of Nov. fro 24 euros. We used the A22 many times to get to medical appointments and love the convenience, quality of pavement etc. and consider it very worth the money. I feel badly for the lost revenue. As a foreigner with a PT registered car, and residency here, I guess there's no way to charge me separately, but ideally, PT citizens could travel free and the rest of us could be charged. Wouldn't that help? Rental cars for instance could still be charged as they're presumably tourists, non-citizen residents license plates could be registered to continue paying etc.
By Dotty Hopkins from Algarve on 05 Dec 2024, 11:09
Far fewer HGV's . Negligible local peasantry in clapped out bangers , make the toll fee an absolute bargain and the excellent quality of the roads compared to the potholes and poor safety of the so called alternatives only enhances the feeling of "getting a bargain"
By John from Alentejo on 06 Dec 2024, 06:50