The mayor of Albufeira, Rui Cristina, announced that the municipality would ban, from 22 July, access to these vehicles in areas where their accumulation is hindering circulation and access for emergency vehicles, but APTAD opposes the municipality's decision, considering it to be without legal basis, discriminatory, and taken without dialogue with the sector.

Rui Cristina's reaction

In a statement made on social media, the mayor of Albufeira, Rui Cristina, stated that "every summer Albufeira receives thousands of visitors and registers a massive increase in TVDE vehicles coming from different parts of the country" and that they cause "an excessive concentration" in areas such as the city centre or Avenida da Liberdade.

"Many circulate repeatedly, without passengers, or remain parked in inappropriate places, creating queues, blocking streets and seriously affecting traffic, but there is a line that we cannot allow to be crossed: emergency vehicles, ambulances, firefighters and security forces cannot be prevented from quickly reaching those who need help," he justified.

Postponed problem

The mayor, elected by Chega in the municipal elections in October, considered that, "for a long time, this problem has always been postponed" and accused the previous executives led by the PSD of "lack of courage to make decisions".

“We chose to act and, in coordination with the security forces, we approved the ban on the circulation of TVDE vehicles in the most critical areas,” he announced, clarifying that the ban will be valid “from the Pau da Bandeira area to downtown Albufeira and its surroundings, in the southern area of ​​Avenida da Liberdade, in the Rua da Oura area and on the side accesses of Avenida dos Descobrimentos.”

Outright opposition

APTAD reacted in a statement and expressed its “outright opposition to the decision of the Albufeira City Council to ban the circulation of TVDE vehicles in several areas of the municipality” in the Faro district.

“APTAD recognises the traffic problems that Albufeira faces in the summer. But recognising a problem is one thing; solving it by prohibiting the work of professionals who comply with the law, pay taxes and provide a service sought by thousands of people is quite another. It is not a solution – it is a shortcut, taken without legal basis and without any dialogue with the sector,” the association argued.

The organisation representing professionals in passenger transport vehicles hired through electronic platforms also considered that the Algarve City Council “does not have the competence to make this decision,” which is “discriminatory” because it does not also cover taxis or private rental vehicles.

Freedom of movement

According to APTAD, the measure also clashes with the rights of “freedom of movement” and “freedom of economic initiative,” which are “guaranteed by the Constitution and only the law can restrict them – never a municipal council resolution,” and conflicts with the current legislation for TVDE (Transport Vehicle with Driver), which does not foresee “any local or geographical restriction on movement.”

Therefore, APTAD demands the “immediate revocation” of the municipal decision and “reserves the right to resort to all legal means to defend its members and the affected drivers,” while expressing its “availability” for dialogue with the municipality.

“The mayor states that ‘the rules are for everyone.’ APTAD fully endorses this. Starting with the most important one: that municipalities comply with national law and do not legislate against it,” he concluded.