Rising fuel prices have sparked protests in Portugal, with around 500 trucks taking to the roads in the north of the country, while drivers in Lisbon honked their horns. The march began in the early hours of the morning in an industrial area on the outskirts of Porto. The trucks, belonging to construction companies that do not benefit from government subsidies for the transport sector, headed towards Coimbra.
The convoy traveled along the highway connecting the north and south of Portugal and is expected to travel about 140 kilometers. At the start, the trucks moved at reduced speed in the right lane, without completely blocking the traffic of other vehicles.
The media reports that the protesters are demanding a reduction in fuel taxes, as well as the suspension of some tariffs and remote working measures. They say that the continuous increase in costs is significantly making their activity difficult. In Lisbon, drivers have organized a protest using horns on one of the bridges over the Tagus River, opposing high fuel prices.
Fuel prices in Portugal have reached record levels this week. According to data from the General Directorate of Energy, the average price of diesel has exceeded 2.22 euros per liter, while gasoline has reached around 2.11 euros per liter. Faced with the situation, the Portuguese government has taken several measures to limit the impact of price increases. Since March, taxes on fuels have been reduced, while mechanisms for intervention in the event of energy crises have also been provided.
