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Prime Minister António Costa revealed this Thursday that the Government challenged the precautionary measure presented by the Elefante Branco nightclub, in Lisbon, to be able to open until 4 am, which forces the nightclub to continue closing at 8 pm. .
The initiative was already being considered by other bars and clubs, but it divides the sector. “There are those who want to go against the Government and there are those who want to dialogue,” says Hugo Cardoso, from the Association of Bars, Clubs and Entertainers, who fears “a misfortune”, especially after the new contingency situation imposed by the closure, at most, until 11 pm.
The administrative and fiscal court of Lisbon admitted the precautionary measure filed by the Elefante Branco nightclub against the mandatory closure of nightclubs until 8:00 p.m. The measure allowed the famous Lisbon establishment to remain open until 4 in the morning, the usual time, but it collapsed when the Council of Ministers, as António Costa announced, “approved a resolution preventing this precautionary measure.”
Still, there are bars and clubs that plan to carry out the same initiative. “We can move forward, but there is still no decision. There are entrepreneurs who have made large investments to open themselves as restaurants or cafes. People have no idea. And now we are limiting our hours again, ”says Hugo Cardoso. With the new contingency situation, the establishments that closed at 1 am, as of Tuesday, will close between 8 pm and 11 pm, according to the decision of each Municipality.
Hugo emphasizes that there are “owners of nightclubs who are already giving space to landlords” and “others will not take it.” “We are going to have to do something, go to the streets, the virus does not only walk at night,” he says.
Clubs ask for support
But there are more moderate positions. For Hilário Castro, from the Barrio Alto Merchants Association, “here it is evident that there are half a dozen merchants who also intend to proceed with a precautionary measure, but in general the people agree with the current measures.” All because “responsibility must speak louder” and public health is at stake, with “cases through the roof.” “Today almost everything is open. The Government has created conditions so that bars, with the exception of one or another nightclub, could function. The bars obviously did not become restaurants, not least because they are not adapted for that, but because the automatic change of code of activity for restoration was a way to solve and well. Because many people depend on these establishments “.
Hilário agrees with the measures that have been taken, but says the next step is to support these establishments. “We, in the center of Lisbon, suffered a lot from this. We had an oxygen balloon with the opening to tourism, which came to compensate something.” But it’s not enough. Mário Carvalho, from the Oporto Historical Zone Bar Association, agrees. Of course, the situation of the injunction, especially in the sense that it is an exception for a dwelling, may lead others to think about doing the same. But the ideal situation is consensus with the Government. In this case, the court accepted the but there will be other courts that may have other criteria. This will not be the solution ”.
According to Mário, “the houses that have dance floors practically all remain closed, because they do not have the conditions to function in other terms, they already have an audience built to go there to dance, they no longer go to drink coffee or eat a cake. Custard. “He admits that there are” shameful bankruptcies “and that” many houses no longer pay employees. “But what you want is” understanding. “
“We do not want to start pandemic outbreaks. We want the government to support us. We have to be considered an exception regime. Because we have not worked for half a year. We need real support. The solution is not to open up, unless DGS defines safe Rules. Keeping ourselves closed, so that there is a non-refundable support ”, he concludes.
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