“On the part of the Lisbon City Council, a total investment of up to 35 million euros has been and is expected in the requirement to create conditions for various events,” the municipality said in a statement, defending the need to fulfill the obligations of the state. “at least on par” with the municipality’s efforts, remembering that in other major events in Portugal, “government support was evident”.
This commitment was announced by the Mayor of Lisbon (CML) Carlos Moedas (PSD) in a letter sent to Prime Minister António Coste (PS), in which he refers to the basis of what will be adopted by the municipality to guarantee the World Youth Day 2023 event ( WYDLisboa2023) and an estimate of the costs incurred by the municipality.
“CML has taken over its responsibilities. We are still waiting for a response from the government, which has not yet assumed its responsibilities,” the municipality explained.
Just this week, CML assured a “spending increase” for JMJLisboa2023 with the approval of the municipal executive’s proposals for amendments to the contract program of the municipal company Lisboa Ocidental SRU – Sociedade de Reabilitação Urbana by the Municipal Assembly of Lisbon, after the PSD municipal group changed the voting method to approve those the same proposals that last week she decided to thwart by moving from abstaining to voting in favour.
The costs of the event “currently amount to 21 million euros, almost double what we found at the beginning of the mandate,” said the CML, chaired by the Social Democrat Carlos Moedas, who took office on October 18, 2021. who rules without an absolute majority.
“When this executive director took office on this particular issue, there was no formal document on the responsibilities and competencies of each of the participants in the process,” the CML said in a statement, adding that the current leadership of the chamber “from the very beginning assumed with commitment and dedication to the realization of the important event of World Youth Day.”
The municipality emphasized that while there was no formalization of CML involvement in the process, steps were taken “from the beginning” with all involved entities to clearly define responsibilities in the preparation of JMJLisboa2023.
“As in previous events – sports and other – of a global scale and organized in Portugal, the support of the government was obvious. We also believe that in WYD the obligations assumed by the state, directly or indirectly, are at least equal to the efforts made. Municipality of Lisbon”, defended CML.
In this sense, the Municipality of Lisbon believes that “a concrete clarification and acceptance of responsibility by all parties involved” is necessary to ensure the success of a complex operation that will bring young people from all over the world to Portugal.
JMJLisboa 2023 will take place next August 1-6 next year in the Parque das Nações area of Lisbon, and will also cover part of the Loures municipality, in an event that respects the presence of Pope Francis and expects more from a million young people around the world.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
