Environment Minister, João Matos Fernandes, has accused the Uber transport service company of operating illegally in Portugal.
Fernandes said in parliament that Uber is illegal, citing a court decision that Uber should cease operating.
Uber said the court decision is under appeal as the company claims it merely is an intermediary platform between passengers and drivers.
Taxi drivers, especially in Lisbon, want immediate action and the Uber service shut down. Intermittent protests and punch-ups have highlighted the taxi drivers’ fears that Uber will destroy their highly regulated business and they will all end up either in the poor house, or as Uber drivers.
The Minister of Environment unreservedly offered his support to the taxi companies in the war with Uber, saying several times in Parliament that the activities of this online platform "are illegal" thus considering himself a step above Portugal’s judges and court system.
"It is clear that Uber is illegal. It’s not me saying this, it a court that decided this,” said Fernandes, adding helpfully that "the law is clear when it says that carrying passengers can only be done by transport operators ", and that "Uber is not a transport operator."
Uber agrees with the minister that its service is not that of a transport operator and that it operated a web platform between customers and those actually providing the services.
The Portuguese Federation of Taxi Drivers is delighted to get an opinion from a minister, a rarity in itself, and again is demanding the immediate suspension of Uber’s activity before Uber’s appeal is heard.
The Taxi Drivers Federation did not help matters when it took the wrong Uber to court, as Uber Inc in the US has no operations in Portugal.
Uber BV, based in the Netherlands, operates the service in Portugal so any judgement against Uber Inc is beyond useless and has complicated matters no end.
The general director of Uber in Portugal said that the service "operates only with licenced service providers in accordance with the law in force," adding that everyone involved is insured and pays taxes.
The minister’s opinions may be welcomed by the taxi drivers but are neither here nor there until Uber’s appeal is heard.
As to what Uber's customers think of the service, it is unlikely that anyone will ask them.
