TVDE Decree Sent for Review
A year and a half after Portugal’s Constitutional Court struck down a regional rule set up by the government of Miguel Albuquerque, which limited the number of TVDE vehicles to 40, Madeira’s Regional Government has moved to pause new licenses for the app-based transport service until the end of the year. The measure is said to update a regional parliamentary decree:
An update to the regional parliamentary decree introduces an article that establishes a temporary suspension, until December 31, of the issuance of new driver and operator TVDE licenses. Existing licenses and current operators will continue to operate without any restrictions.
The decree has been sent to the Representative of the Republic and is under review.
At the moment, we have more than 700 driver licenses and around 400 operators. 400 operators and 700 drivers are already active, mainly in Funchal. This is a problem not only in Madeira but across Europe, especially in major urban centers where the issue is more pressing. Up to today, around 730 TVDE driver licenses have been issued.
Government Officials Defend Legality
Regional government officials argue the pause differs from the earlier rule that was declared unconsitutional.
We don’t believe so, this is a different situation. We are not limiting the number of vehicles; we are respecting the Constitutional Court’s guidance. We are neither restricting the number of vehicles nor curbing any freedoms - we are only suspending to allow for an analysis
TVDE Spokesperson Questions the Move
The National Association Movimento TVDE challenged the decision.
We are not entirely in favor of suspending licenses. What we do support is balance, which really needs to be brought into the sector. Together with the platforms, we need to understand the number of vehicles required to operate in the Autonomous Region of Madeira, and that there should be a limit per operator.
TVDE Spokesperson, RTP Madeira
He added that the region, the platforms and the association should define how many vehicles are needed in Madeira and set a limit per operator.
Source: RTP Madeira
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