The mayor of Lisbon said this Wednesday that the “main pillar” of the organization of World Youth Day 2023 “has and will continue to be Councilor Laurinda Alves”, justifying the recent change with the formation of a “multi-disciplinary team”.
“The main pillar of all these days has been and will continue to be Councilor Laurinda Alves, and the work she has done has been excellent,” said Carlos Moedas (PSD), referring to the fact that the independent mayor elected by the Novos Tempos coalition (PSD/CDS -PP /MPT/PPM/Aliança) will continue to organize World Youth Day 2023 (WYDLisboa2023).
At an open meeting of the Municipal Executive, the PS and BE advisers asked PSD/CDS-PP management questions about the organization of JMJLisboa2023, namely the change in the delegation of this competence.
Last week, the Mayor of Lisbon removed the responsibility for the overall coordination of all municipal activities aimed at organizing and implementing JMJLisboa2023 from Councilor Laurinda Alves and entrusted it to Vice President Filipe Anacoreta Correia (CDS-PP).
Another issue of PS and BE was related to the funding envisaged in the amendments to the program contract of the municipal company Lisboa Ocidental SRU – Sociedade de Reabilitação Urbana for JMJLisboa2023, which were approved on Tuesday at the municipal meeting after a new vote. , a week after they failed, with a reversal of PSD MPs’ vote to make the proposals viable.
BE adviser Beatriz Gomez Diaz said “there are concerns about this” and confirmed the need to reschedule the contracts signed to organize the event.
From the PS Council, Pedro Segonho stressed the importance of JMJLisboa2023, which envisages a visit of 1.4 million pilgrims, stressed the unlocking of the necessary tools for the SRU to carry out preparatory work for the event, questioned the presence of a portfolio in this volume, whether there is “a political management of this project in the Chamber” and whether all deadlines will be met.
In response, the Mayor of Lisbon justified the change in the delegation of authority for the organization of JMJLisboa2023 by the formation of a “multi-disciplinary team”, including the availability of financial opportunities to invest in the event, since the Vice President is in charge of the finance department.
Carlos Moedas reinforced the teamwork being done in this area, which “will continue to be led in terms of image by adviser Laurinda Alves”, highlighting the “extraordinary work” he has done over the past nine months and which “will continue”. do.”
The Mayor of PSD also asked the government for a clear position on the organization of JMJLisboa2023, emphasizing the importance of the event for the city and the country, but noting that the Lisbon Chamber “is not a promoter of the event.”
The Social Democrat also said that when he took over as mayor of Lisbon, “nothing was done” about JMJLisboa2023, “there was no plan, there was no reward and there was no money” to organize the event, adding that he had already reported to the government that the municipality is prepared to make, an agreement that it will present to the rest of the municipal executive “at the beginning of September”.
Socialist Pedro Segoño countered that “it’s not true that there was nothing” prepared by the previous leader, pointing out that there was a budget forecast and asked the mayor to show “more enthusiasm and dedication” for the event, to which Carlos Moedas responded positively. and stressed the need for government assistance, namely for multimedia towers and toilet structures on the ground.
Carlos Moedas assured that the Chamber will be able to fulfill the plan for organizing the event, acknowledging that “the deadlines are tight”, but from September the work will be accelerated.
“We are confident that we will not lose,” he stressed.
Before the agenda, PCP adviser João Ferreira questioned the mayor about abandoning the Feira Popular project in Carnida, and social democrat Carlos Moedas confirmed the promoters’ lack of interest in investing in the idea and said that his proposal to have the facility equipped for the city was not yet closed. and will be discussed with the rest of the municipal executive.
Municipal works adviser Philip Roseta (PSD) said the Feira Popular project “was halted” when the current executive took over because the contractor turned down the job and is now “trying to negotiate to get a higher cost”, noting that the municipality is trying to “turn around” the situation.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
