The President of the Republic promulgated, yesterday, the diploma that amends Decree-Law No. 37-A/2025, of 24 March, which defines a new model for the attribution of a Social Mobility Allowance, within the scope of air services between the mainland and the Autonomous Regions.
In a note on the official website of the Presidency of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa raises concerns about the new rule that only those without debts to the Tax Authorities and Social Security can claim the allowance, and, if necessary, must provide a document proving their contributory status. He points out that, according to current legislation, this is information the State already has or should have.
The changes have been condemned by parties across the board.
Furthermore, the 14th Standing Committee of the Assembly of the Republic unanimously approved, this Tuesday, 6th of January, the visit of the Minister of Infrastructure and Mobility, Miguel Pinto Luz and the Secretary of State, Hugo EspĂrito Santo, to the Parliament of the Republic, for a hearing on the implementation of the new model of the Social Mobility Allowance, namely the obligation of a regularised contributory and tax situation.
The requests presented were approved by the PSD Parliamentary Group, reiterating the position of the deputies elected by the Autonomous Regions of Madeira and the Azores, who disagree with this obligation, as mobility “is a constitutional right.”
On the occasion, the Madeiran deputy Vânia Jesus intervened, noting that the PSD deputies, elected by Madeira, were surprised by the public communication of the requirement for a mandatory tax document to prove a person’s tax payments are up to date as a condition for residents of the Autonomous Regions to receive the Social Mobility Allowance. The parliamentarian expressed her disagreement, justifying that this amendment “is inadequate, unnecessary, excessive and unfair,” also leaving reservations about its constitutionality and that it raises issues of proportionality, and territorial inequality that should be clarified.
Vânia Jesus warned that for the citizens of the Autonomous Region of Madeira and the Azores, the Social Mobility Allowance is the guarantor of territorial cohesion, and stressed that we should not even be talking about a subsidy, but an obligation of the State that should be the guarantor of territorial travel and cohesion.
The deputy also stressed that any administrative limitation that, in practice, conditions this mobility, generates an objective inequality in relation to citizens residing on the mainland and creates increased and unacceptable obstacles, must be eliminated.
Vânia Jesus went further to say that, if this change is confirmed, it will be “a setback” to the main objective of the new SSM model through the digital platform. In other words, to streamline, simplify, and reduce bureaucracy.
Finally, she said that the PSD/M deputies, in conjunction with the Regional Government, will promote initiatives with the PSD GP in the Assembly of the Republic to reverse this situation because this issue severely impacts the lives of island citizens, in particular those residing in Madeira.”
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
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