The leader of the Socialist Party, José Luís Carneiro, and the National Association of Energy, Fuel and Service Station Retailers (ANAREC) criticized on Friday the increase in State tax revenue through fuels. In separate interventions, both accused the Executive of inflating tax revenue at the expense of taxpayers and the Portuguese business sector.
José Luís Carneiro, upon entering a meeting with the National Association of Portuguese Municipalities in Coimbra, stated that "the Government gave with one hand and is taking away with two." The socialist leader argued that there is a "brutal increase in revenue" coming from VAT and the tax burden on fuels between 2024 and 2025, with direct impact in 2026, considering that IRS reliefs and extraordinary pension support are "manifestly insufficient" given the volume of taxes collected.
ANAREC promoted an action at a fuel station in Lanhelas, in the municipality of Caminha, where its president João Durão demanded an immediate reduction in the tax burden and increased enforcement in border zones. According to João Durão, "out of one euro of diesel, 60 cents are taxes," a situation that does not occur in Spain, where fuels can cost between 30 and 40 cents less per liter.
The price disparity has driven daily crossings of drivers and farmers to the Spanish side, including the purchase of road diesel that is cheaper than subsidized agricultural diesel in Portugal. Given this exodus of tax revenue to Spain, ANAREC announced it will request an urgent meeting with the Executive and send a formal request for clarification, not ruling out further protest actions.
