La comunidad acusa al Ministro de Transporte de buscar controversia con tarifas de transporte.

The community of Madrid accused the Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Oscar Puente, on Wednesday of wanting to «confront» and «seek controversy» with the regional government of Isabel Díaz Ayuso, threatening sanctions and rejecting the intention of «hiding» in public transport funding.

Specifically, the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility warned Madrid for possible sanctions for not complying with the law after the community announced that transport fares would be free for children up to 14 years old starting from July 1st, a measure already announced by the central government for the entire country.

The government has already allocated 878 million euros to reduce transport prices by 2025, including 355 million for free subsidies for children under 15, as well as 50% discounts and 40% for the rest of the population from July 1st to December 31st.

During a press conference after the board meeting on Wednesday, the government’s spokesperson and counselor of the presidency, justice, and local administration, Miguel Ángel García Martín, recalled that this measure was approved by the board of the Regional Transport Consortium of Madrid.

«The Ministry of Transport is hiding the truth,» said the government’s spokesperson, emphasizing that the department led by Oscar Puente was represented at the CRTM meeting and later informed decisions. «Are you hiding? No? Yes, they were there. How can we hide something they participated in? Did they vote? Yes, they voted in favor. Therefore, I did not hide anything,» he emphasized.

In this regard, he insisted that there is «absolutely nothing to hide» and accused the minister of seeking controversy where there is none.

On the other hand, the ministry considers that Madrid deliberately and premeditatedly omitted one of the obligations set out in the call to autonomous communities and local entities. If this deliberate omission persists, the corresponding sanction may be imposed, as provided for in the regulations governing these subsidies, which the Madrid community is at risk of facing.

He mentioned that all public administrations are required by law to disclose the sources of funding, just as with projects funded by the European Union, which Madrid omitted in this case.

«The community of Madrid is playing games to confuse, telling half-truths and trying to hide the reality for their own benefit,» he added.

Regarding the regional government, the counselor pointed out that the contribution made by the Ministry to Promote the Regional Transport Consortium has been frozen for several years, and the regional government finances 73% of public transport in the region. While he welcomed these initiatives, he emphasized that the fundamental effort comes from the regional government.

«It seems they want to add to initiatives that have long been subsidized by the community of Madrid in public transport, making these prices accessible, for example, starting in July with free public transport for children under 14, and for the elderly, which I funded from the government of Madrid,» he concluded.

FUENTE