Key facts
- Hundreds of truckers protested soaring fuel costs in Portugal on Friday.
- Truckers drove in a 150-km (93-mile) go-slow convoy on the A1 motorway.
- Commuters protested on Lisbon's April 25 bridge by honking horns.
- Fuel prices have reached all-time highs due to supply disruptions.
- Diesel prices hit more than €2 per liter in August.
- Protesters demanded tax relief and other measures to lower fuel costs.
Hundreds of truckers and commuters in Portugal protested soaring fuel prices on Friday. Truckers participated in a 150-km (93-mile) go-slow convoy along the A1 motorway from Paredes to Coimbra, while commuters honked their horns on Lisbon's April 25 bridge. Fuel prices have reached record highs, with diesel exceeding €2 per liter in August due to supply disruptions related to the Iran war and refinery attacks linked to the war in Ukraine. Prices increased 24% year-on-year in August.
Demonstrators are demanding tax relief, including eligibility for partial refunds on petroleum product taxes enjoyed by transport companies. Commuters also called for the reinstatement of remote working policies, the suspension of toll payments, and the suspension of the 23% value-added tax on fuel. The group also seeks the resignation of Environment Minister Maria Graça Carvalho over her suggestion that citizens drive more slowly to reduce consumption.
Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Miguel Pinto Luz acknowledged that the trucking industry had been "overlooked in some ways" in previous measures to limit the impact of rising fuel prices. He pledged to review the protesters' proposals and has scheduled a meeting with their representatives for the following Monday.