"Our [law] project was rejected" because "it not only abolished the SCUTs" but also "attacked where it is necessary to attack, which is this privilege of the Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), the ones that take a billion euros in profit from the pockets of all of us from the State Budget", said the communist leader.

In statements to journalists, in Beja, on the sidelines of a visit he is making this afternoon to the Ovibeja agricultural fair, the PCP secretary-general stressed that it was due to the PPPs that "Chega, voting alongside the PS for a PS project, did not vote for our project", which "was rejected".

However, with the PS's bill to eliminate tolls on former SCUTs approved in general terms in parliament, with the votes in favour of the socialists, Chega, BE, PCP, Livre and PAN, "there is now a path that is open for the reduction of tolls", according to Paulo Raimundo.

"Not as we needed", that is, "to end tolls, but also these millions of millions of euros that are transferred to PPPs", but it was "halfway across the bridge".

And, at the same time, he stressed, it is necessary to discount "even the hypocrisy of the situation", because, "for years and years, until six months ago", the PCP presented "a set of proposals to end tolls", but "the PS always voted against it".

"And now, it thought it was time, very well, it counted on our support, it couldn't be otherwise. It's a pity, we could have solved this years ago", he argued.

Moreover, on the initiative of the PCP, "this problem had never been raised, but here we are, halfway across the bridge, I would say", he insisted.

Parliament today approved in general terms the PS bill to eliminate tolls on former SCUTs with the votes in favour of the socialists, Chega, BE, PCP, Livre and PAN.

In the votes on this project, PSD and CDS-PP voted against and the IL abstained.

After a tense debate with many accusations, the PS initiative to eliminate tolls on sections and sub-sections of the Interior motorways (former SCUTs) or where there are no alternative routes that allow use in quality and safety was finally approved, and the projects will now move on to the speciality process.

The PS proposal - the only one that was approved this afternoon - aims to end tolls on the A4 - Transmontana and Marão Tunnel, 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.

This measure - which according to the socialists has a budgetary impact of 157 million euros - will come into force on 1 January 2025, according to the PS bill.

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