Portuguese Communist Party criticizes railway privatization

Paulo Raimundo, the Secretary-General of the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP), has criticized the government for using public funds to benefit private entities within the railway sector. Speaking at a book presentation in Lisbon, Raimundo argued that investments should prioritize public service and passenger benefits rather than privatization.

He specifically criticized the current model of railway management, suggesting that while the government uses taxpayer money to modernize lines and purchase trains, the actual operation is handed over to private companies. Raimundo cited the operator Fertagus as an example of a concession that fails to meet user needs and prevents the national carrier, CP, from operating on certain lines due to existing contract constraints.