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Spain: ‘Podemos’ party to interrogate CNMC’s president over Uber controversy

By  |  March 1, 2016

Deputies of upstart political party ‘Podemos’ have called for the President of the country’s National Commission for Markets and Competition, José María Marín Quemada, to appear before the legislature to explain details of his agency’s plans to deregulate Spain’s Taxi sector.

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    Through a statement, Podemos’ spokesman before the Economy and Competition Commission in Spain’s senate, Mr. Oscar Guardingo, has asked for Mr. Marín Quemada’s presence following a meeting held last week with several representatives of the country’s various taxi unions. The meeting took place during a large protest held outside the competition regulator’s offices.

    According to Mr. Guardingo, the example of cities such as San Francisco in the USA have shown that “far from promoting competition, Uber has become a monopoly” and has had negative effects on employment previously taken by taxi drivers. Podemos has vowed to “prevent this from happening to Spain”. The political movement has called for an open discussion about the sector, but not for a deregulation “that will let monopolies and multinationals come in, which don’t even pay their taxes in Spain.”

    Full Content: La Vanguardia

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