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Hundreds of taxis on strike slow down, Monday, July 30, 2018, on the main boulevard de la Castellana, in Madrid, to protest against the competition of the VTC. REUTERS / Susana Vera
After Barcelona and Madrid, a strike of taxis against the competition of vehicles of tourism with drivers (VTC) extended Monday to other regions of Spain. After long hours of negotiation between the taxi associations and the Ministry of Infrastructure in Madrid, there is still no solution. This means that strikes are likely to continue and could seriously block many urban centers.
With our correspondent in Madrid, François Musseau
Hundreds of taxis slowly making their way to Madrid's big Boulevard de la Castellana in the direction of the Ministry of Infrastructure. A similar blockage all along the Paseo de Gracia in Barcelona, which is also a backbone of the city. Not to mention events in Seville, Valencia and more generally in 11 of the 17 Spanish regions.
An unprecedented show of anger from a collective that says "basta" and that requires the national government a decree-law that sets the limits for these major competitors such as private transport companies such as Uber or Cabify.
Taxi associations do not want to wait anymore: there must not be more than one competing vehicle for 30 taxis, they say, and if their numbers swarm, then licenses must be reduced.
The protest started in Barcelona, where 1,035 licenses for Uber and Cabify would be issued, while taxis say their number should not exceed 400.
It remains to be seen whether the government will give in and promulgate a decree-law which gives reason to the collectives of taxis. If not, it is to be expected that this mobilization will only worsen and complicate the daily life of the Spaniards.