Braga is looking for a brewery to sponsor major events, the opposition is against

The Braga Chamber approved this Monday, with an opposition vote, the launch of a public auction worth 560 thousand euros to select the main sponsor of the city’s five main events in 2024 and 2025.

PS, through the voice of Councilor Adolfo Macedo, stated that it does not agree with the exclusivity granted to breweries, emphasizing that the option should be exactly the opposite.

“Instead of giving brewers exclusive rights, brewers should be excluded from this,” he said.

As an alternative, socialists believe that the auction should be open to all types of sponsors.

“At any major festival in the country, the main sponsor is rarely a brewery,” said Adolfo Macedo.

He also warned of the situation of “unfair competition” that this measure could bring to trade located in the city.

These arguments were supported by CDU councilor Vitor Rodriguez, while the entire opposition voted against.

Chamber President Ricardo Rio (PSD) has argued from the outset that the city’s traditional operators are “greatly benefiting” from all the dynamics generated by major events.

“This is without any investment, without any input, as opposed to an operator obtained through a public auction who will make a very significant investment,” he said.

Rio also said there are complaints from traders who have been working on the sites throughout the year “in violation” of the rules set for the Historic Center.

The purpose of the public auction is to select the main sponsor for this and next year’s Braga Romana, Festas de São João, Euro 2024, Noite Branca and New Year’s Eve.