The Community has already received the payment of more than 100 million euros from the central Executive that pays for part of the measure

MADRID, 15 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Community of Madrid will not extend the 50% discount on transport passes, which ends on December 31, and has already received the transfer from the central Executive of more than 100 million euros, which has covered part of the cost of this reduction since last september.

This has been pointed out by the Minister of Economy, Finance and Employment, Javier Fernández-Lasquetty, at a breakfast organized by Europa Press in which he has taken advantage of the Community's Transport policies to ensure that it is "the most subsidized of Europe".

In this key, he has pointed out how the funds received from the central Executive to pay part of the subscription reduction represents almost 10% of the total paid by the Autonomous Government that "subsidizes about 60% of the real cost of each trip" and that, In addition, it has maintained frozen rates for more than a decade.

"The subscription discount was a temporary measure until December 31 and will end on December 31", Lasquetty settled, closing the door to an extension like the one announced by the central government in the rail systems of its competition -Renfe, Rodalíes and Cercanías-- which will continue to be free throughout 2023.

The central government approved an initial reduction of 30% for transport tickets at regional and local levels, which would be subsidized by the government. From there, the Communities could decide whether to expand it to 50%, running the cost on their own, as Madrid decided.

In any case, the Government has not yet expressed itself on the extension of that 30% minimum discount on regional and local transport, having only confirmed that of Cercanías and Media Distancia.