Carlos Moedas says he has “no doubt” that WYD will return

Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas (PSD) said on Tuesday he has “absolutely no doubt” about the return of World Youth Day (WYD), noting that the event brought “more than 500 million homes” to the city.

“I never had any doubt at all that there would be a moment like World Youth Day for the city, and I have always defended and will defend it, and I will be here to get all the numbers, all the calculations made,” he said at a meeting of the Municipal Assembly of Lisbon, where he presented the work of the executive during the last quarter, from June to August.

Carlos Moedas said WYD, which took place from August 1 to 6, “brought Lisbon into 500 million homes worldwide”, comparing it to major events such as the Super Bowl in the United States.

“Reaching so many homes is absolutely unique for the city,” confirmed the mayor, noting that the event was attended by 1.5 million people who will become ambassadors of the Portuguese capital.

The question of the return of the VYD was asked by BE MP Leonor Rosas, taking into account data indicating a slowdown in the economy in the first week of August, whether it was “worth it” to close metro stations and impede the circulation of buses, and the extent of direct adjustments.

“It is impossible to simply justify everything that happened with the arrival of the Pope,” complained the blocker, demanding transparency in the presentation of WYD reports.

In response, Carlos Moedas recalled that the decision to hold the WYD in Lisbon was made by the previous manager, in which BE governed the city in agreement with the PS, asking whether they “made the decision without doing the calculations.”

“I’m surprised because sometimes in politics there are truly unique moments,” the Social Democrat noted, guaranteeing that control is welcome and full transparency regarding the GYM.

MP Miguel Ferreira da Silva from the Liberal Initiative (IL) stressed that now is the time to scrutinize the GMR, asking for a list of all direct changes made by the municipality, although he is convinced that “they were done well”, but because he believes it is important to “put an end to political exploitation.”

The vice-president of the Lisbon Chamber, Filipe Anacoreta Correia (CDS-PP), responsible for the WYD, assured that all information will be made available to members of the municipal assembly, noting that there are “more than 230 administrative processes” and expressing “great peace of mind regarding liability.”

At the proposal of the board of the Municipal Assembly, chaired by Rosário Farmhouse (PS), the Day was approved, with BE, Livre and PEV abstaining, and PCP, PS, PSD, PAN voting in favour. , IL, MPT, PPM, AL, CDS-PP, Chega and independent MP Daniela Serraglia (PS/Livre coalition).

It also became possible to make a recommendation from the Novos Tempos coalition (PSD/CDS-PP/MPT/PPM/Aliança), addressed to the Chamber, in which it welcomed the event and asked “that the future toponymic designation of the new coastal park of Tagus and Trancao, in the territorial administrative zone Lisbon, to awaken and perpetuate the memory of WYD 2023.”

It also approved the PCP’s recommendation that the chamber report to the assembly “on how public money has been used and managed, and the profits that will result from the use of these resources in the future for the benefit of the people and the city” and to maximize public investment in the Tagus Trancão urban park so that the population can enjoy it.