Madrid taxi drivers occupied the Paseo de la Castellana with their vehicles this Tuesday to protest against the regulation promoted by the President of the Autonomous Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso. Participation numbers ranged from 3,000, according to the government delegation, to 6,000, according to the march’s organizer, the Professional Taxi Federation (FPTM). The dispute between the state government and the federal government is caused by several focal points: the increase in driving licenses per driver from three to 50, liberalizing working hours and abolishing fixed tariffs.
Twelve days after the last demonstration, the caravan called by the Professional Taxi Federation (FPTM) drove from Plaza de Castilla to Nuevos Ministerios in the middle lane of Paseo de la Castellana. The protesters lined up the street from Raimundo Fernández de Villaverde to the headquarters of Madrid’s Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure at the Maudes Palace. Although the association counts around 6,000 demonstrators, it also states that it has received complaints from many taxi drivers who were unable to attend the call due to space constraints, and estimates the number of professionals who supported the call to be around 9,000.
This regulation, which would replace the one in force since 2005, “intends to speculate and facilitate the accumulation of licenses in the hands of companies in a precarious way”, to the detriment of self-employed taxi drivers, according to FPTM President Julio Sanz, telling journalists . The leader of the march believes that this measure will make it possible to create “corporate networks” that can be carried out in a short time with the taxi collective, which until now has consisted of self-employed people. The fear of the taxi industry, which held a referendum on October 15, 2022 in which 95% of the 9,000 participants voted against these draft regulations, is that the taxi industry resembles the Rental Vehicles with Driver (VTC) platforms, “a sector with speculation , insecurity and labor exploitation,” denounces Sanz.
Sanz has also cited various reports reflecting that the VTC model creates “disturbances” in congestion, traffic and air in cities. In addition, she accuses the VTC companies of entering the market and “attacking everything with a price-cutting policy, speculating and splashing untold millions for later,” according to various consumer organizations, “when they installed themselves and caught customers.” up to 57% more prizes”.
In the debate on the state of the region, the President of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, announced that the government of Madrid will complete the regulatory developments for taxis and VTCs, which will mean “significant improvements for both license holders and users” in be able to multiply billing and improve service. With the new regulation they are working on, taxis will be “free to drive whenever they want, 24 hours a day, any day of the week, and services through shared cars will be allowed, where users can reserve a single seat at a.” Vehicle that must be made available to other people, reducing the price for each traveler”. With the freedom of time, taxi drivers can earn up to 60% more per month for the license and create around 3,000 new jobs, according to the President of Madrid.
The Assembly’s socialist spokesman, Juan Lobato, has gone to Plaza de Castilla to show his support for the taxi sector, on which 25,000 families depend, and to “defend the right of all Madrid residents to a public service that guarantees safety and prices.” with special conditions to be able to move around Madrid with quality”. Lobato has urged the regional government to “reach consensus” rather than “impose” regulations to force the taxi sector to work 24 hours a day, seven days a week and urged them to sit down for “talks and dialogues” on what in his opinion, is the opposite of what Isabel Díaz Ayuso and the PP are doing.
What affects most is what happens closer. Subscribe so you don’t miss anything.
Subscribe to
Subscribe to our daily newsletter about Madrid here.