Opposition party attacks Curral das Freiras cable car concession as costly and environmentally risky

The Juntos Pelo Povo party has restated its opposition to the Curral das Freiras cable car in Madeira, after news that construction is moving ahead. It says the 50-year concession, with an initial fixed rent of €2,000 a month, is far below the roughly €37,000 implied by the government's own feasibility study, a gap it puts near €24 million in lost public revenue. It also cites gaps in the environmental report flagged in May 2026, notably over the endangered Madeira petrel, and doubts about the Paredão station site and alternatives. It says it opposes the use of natural heritage for this deal, not investment as such.