The president of PS-Madeira, Célia Pessegueiro, accused the Regional Government of political responsibility for the rise in fuel prices, which are expected to exceed two euros per liter starting Monday.
Pessegueiro contested the justification that the increase results solely from international market developments, arguing that a significant portion of the price paid by consumers corresponds to taxes collected in the Region. The socialist leader advocates for a reduction in the Tax on Petroleum Products (ISP) and VAT to alleviate families and businesses.
The socialist official also criticized the announcement of support packages, considering that a large part of the funds corresponds to conditional community funds and that micro and small businesses face excessive bureaucracy to access support. In contrast, PS-Madeira points out that the Regional Government collected an additional 30 million euros in VAT and ISP in the first six months of the year compared to the same period in 2025.
