The central government has confirmed the extension of aid to ensure free public transport in the Balearic Islands throughout 2025, a measure that will be officially approved in the Council of Ministers next Monday. Although the specific budget for 2025 has not been disclosed, in 2024 43 million euros were allocated to sustain this initiative, demonstrating the commitment of the central Executive with sustainable mobility in the islands.
Political agreement to extend free education
The decision to maintain this measure for the whole of next year follows an agreement between PSOE and Podemos, which also included the extension of the ban on evictions for vulnerable families.
Although initially it was considered to extend the aid only until mid-2025, finally it has been decided to apply it during the 12 months. According to the Government Delegation, this continuity reaffirms the support of the Executive to the islands, ensuring that Balearic residents can continue to enjoy public transport at no cost, regardless of the regional economic situation.
Expectations and criticisms
The delegate of the Government in the Balearic Islands, Alfonso Rodríguez, has taken the opportunity to highlight the importance of these aids and has urged the Balearic Government to assume its competences in the field of public transport. Rodriguez criticized the Popular Party, which currently leads the regional executive, for not taking measures to subsidize transport in the islands, and pointed out that it is the central government who is “relieving the economy of workers”. On the other hand, Rodriguez has stressed that since 2018 the Ministry of Transport has multiplied by four times the aid destined for public transport in the Balearic Islands, which, according to him, evidences “the greatest effort in history” in this area. However, the measure has also generated debates about its long-term financial sustainability, and the Balearic Government is expected to participate more actively in the implementation of policies that reinforce sustainable mobility in the islands.
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