Madrid, 12 July 2022 – Treni gratis: but it doesn’t happen in Italy. The measure is among the proposals of the Spanish premier Pedro Sanchez against the dear life. Not only new taxes on the profits of banks and energy companies, but also abbonamento gratis to the public railway network, discounts of 30% on the rates for urban public transport and 100 euros of integration for scholarships.
Free trains against expensive living
The Spanish Prime Minister’s anti-inflation recipe was presented in Parliament today. “Since prices began to rise – the socialist premier recalled – Spain has mobilized 30 billion euros” to support companies and families, the equivalent of “2.3% of gross domestic product”.
Hence the new government measures to cope with expensive energy with support for public transport and students. Notably, Sanchez announced one 100% discount on all travelcards for Cercanias and Rodalies transport services (trains of the aree vaste urbane) and of the medium-distance railway public service vehicles managed by the public company Renfe. In this way – a note from Moncloa reads – subscriptions for most trips will be free from the first of September al December 31st.
Discounts on buses and metro
This initiative adds to the 30% reduction for season tickets for the rest of urban and metropolitan transport, which autonomous communities can integrate up to 60%. The head of the Madrid government also announced the creation of a complementary scholarship of 100 euros per month for all students over 16 who already benefit from a scholarship, “with the aim that no young people are forced to abandon their studies. for necessity'”. According to the executive, the measure will benefit nearly one million students from September to December.
The idea of the government, therefore, is to make “fair” the sharing of the burdens on society deriving from the economic impact of the war in Ukraine, which is entailing, also due to the rising costs of energy raw materials, general repercussions on the cost of living of citizens.
Bonus 200 euro
The measures announced today will be added to those already launched between March and June, with validity until 31 December: among these, there is a discount from 20 euro cents per liter for fuels, the halving from 10% to 5% VAT on electricity it’s a 200 euro bonus for low-income families.
“Let’s do it in Italy too”
“After GermaniaSpain also adopts an ambitious program of energy saving through the strengthening of public transport – he observes Mario Furore, MEP of 5 Star Movement –. If Germany has chosen the 9-Euro-Ticket model, a 9-euro ticket to travel freely on all trains and buses of local and regional transport, the Spanish government has announced that these will even be free for three months. It’s Italy? Everything’s quiet. The Draghi government also import into our country this winning model that will allow significant energy savings. Faced with the high bill and the exorbitant price of petrol, public transport is the best ally in defending the purchasing power of citizens “.
