Bill No. 95/XVII-1ª on the right to mobility for residents of the Autonomous Regions, presented to the Assembly of the Republic by the PCP (Portuguese Communist Party) Parliamentary Group in conjunction with the PCP Organizations of the Autonomous Regions of the Azores and Madeira, was approved today in general terms, with only the PSD and CDS deputies voting against it.

The aim was to end the current reimbursement system and require passengers to pay only €119 at the time of purchase. This was a measure of basic justice, as under the current model, beneficiaries had to pay the full cost of their tickets, which was often exorbitant, and were only reimbursed after completing their journey.

The financial burden was, in many cases, a deterrent to travel. In addition, the current model required each passenger to go to the post office and present a whole set of documents. This will now be a thing of the past and allow more Azoreans and Madeirans to travel to mainland Portugal.

From Press Release.

Translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL) as part of Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno, PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADES.