Despite the instability of international financial markets, and doubts about the sustainability of the Portuguese economy in a scenario of near stagnation in Europe, the Government maintains a mega package of pharaonic works on the agenda. And the work that will be most expensive for the country is precisely the construction of a new high-speed rail network.
There will be 20 to 25 billion euros at current prices to be paid by Portuguese taxpayers in rent from Public-Private Partnerships until the end of the 30-year concession. Not only will taxpayers have to pay almost the entire bill in annual PPP income, but the result will be a project of dubious utility, as it will not allow direct access for passenger and freight trains to the European network nor the direct entry of Europeans into Portugal. In addition to the obvious strategic, economic and financial errors, there are strong suspicions of favoritism and a strong ability to influence large national groups over successive governments.
Matilde Fieschi
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Mario Lopes (engineer, professor at Instituto Superior Técnico, was president of ADFERSIT, the Portuguese Association for the Development of Integrated Transport Systems) and Paulo Morais (mathematician, professor, mayor, president of the Associação Frente Cívica, was a candidate for the Presidency of the Republic and author of several books on combating corruption) are José Gomes Ferreira’s guests on the program Negócios da Semana, broadcast on SIC Notícias on November 26th.
Business of the Week is a program by José Gomes Ferreira. The terms and realities of the national and international economy explained every week on SIC Notícias. It airs on television on Wednesdays at 11pm and is published as a podcast on Thursday. Listen to more episodes: