At issue is the fulfillment of an electoral promise of the PSD / CDS-PP / MPT / PPM / Aliança coalition, led by the mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas, who won the previous municipal councils last September, and which a guaranteed visa passes free to public transport within the city for any minor, scholars up to 23 years old and people over 65 years old.

The council’s vice-president, Filipe Anacoreta Correia (CDS-PP), said today that the city council’s budget proposal for 2022 foresees 12 million euros for this measure, which is being negotiated with the operators, since the objective is that the free passes promoted by the municipality cover not only Carris buses (a municipal company), but also the metro and trains within the city.

“A negotiation effort has already been made involving a TML [Transportes Metropolitanos de Lisboa] in quantifying the cost, “revealed Anacoreta Correia, who said that compensation to operators for lost revenue is at stake.

The vice president of the CML, who was speaking at the presentation of the Lisbon City Council’s (CML) budget proposal for 2022, said that he is not able to go forward today with an “exact calendar” for the entry into force of this measure and admitted that he could be adopted in a phased manner, as it is easier “from a technical point of view” to advance first with the differentiated passes that already exist for those over 65 years of age.

“We understand that there are conditions for implementation during this year”, he reinforced, assuring that “the commitment of the municipal executive is that it is in force quickly”.