Ivo Fernandes, from the Portuguese Association of Transporters in Unmarked Vehicles (APTAD), and Victor Soares, from the National Movement Association – TVDE (ANM-TVDE), explained to Lusa that the protest comes at a time when operators and drivers “have aligned themselves on a set of demands, although there are still some disagreements”.

At this moment, they say, they are aligned on three key points: defending the increase in fares by the platforms, opposing the intention of allowing taxis to operate TVDE services in the revision of Law 45/2018, and calling the Government's attention to the need for fuel support.

According to Ivo Fernandes, fares “continue to fall steadily” and, being a point on which the sector has been making demands “over the years”, he considered it to be “completely unbearable”, since “it is already below the cost price” and the “standard of living continues to rise”.

On the other hand, we currently have proposals to revise the law that are in the Infrastructure, Mobility and Housing Committee, being discussed, and the PSD proposal considers the entry of taxis into the TVDE. Something that the Mobility and Transport Authority itself has already spoken out against, the TVDE associations are also against and, therefore, it is something that makes no sense and also deserves our protest,” he said.

Victor Fernandes also recalled the fact that “the international constraints and wars that exist” in recent months have led to an increase in fuel prices and the issue of “the Government not having decreed any type of support for the TVDE sector”.

At this point, Ivo Fernandes recalled that the Government demonstrated “solidarity first with public transport, then [with] transport and freight companies, but has left out the TVDE sector”.

“We don’t understand why the TVDE sector is left out of this support when more than half of the TVDE fleet still needs fuel to work,” he said.

Victor Fernandes, on the other hand, expressed confidence that “more than a thousand drivers will stop” on 29 April and support the fight.

For those who cannot go to Lisbon, to the meeting point at Campo Pequeno at 10 am, Ivo Fernandes reminded them that they can always stop the service wherever they are, anywhere in the country.