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To elect S. Mamede do Coronado santeiros in the “7 Maravilhas de Portugal” contest, broadcast by RTP and ended at the beginning of September, the Câmara da Trofa did not limit itself to appealing to everyone’s vote, and made numerous telephone calls from Valor added to vote for the candidacy of which it was promoter, spending close to 75 thousand euros in phone calls.
The “acquisition of services to reinforce the voting and promotion of the santeiros of S. Mamede do Coronado, candidates for the 7 Wonders of Popular Culture” to the telecommunications company Meo was published on the public contracting portal Base on September 21 , and it’s generating outrage.
The santeiros won the contest, but the result is being questioned, because there are those who consider it “addicted” and the result of “cheating.” This is also the reading of the Bloco de Esquerda and the Socialist Party of Trofa, which repudiate the procedure.
“We are experiencing a pandemic, with people in difficulties, and this is an expense that would normally be superfluous”, considers the BE Trofa coordinator. Gualter Costa emphasizes that, “as it is not illegal, it is completely immoral and scandalous for the Chamber to buy a voting service. It has no head or tail, and it is a trap. Instead of promoting a Wonder chosen by the people, we are promoting a Wonder of the Chamber that paid the most calls ”.
“We were far from dreaming that this result had been flawed and had cost the trophies at least 75 thousand euros,” said Amadeu Dias, who heads the PS council and is “ashamed” and “incredulous” with the Chamber’s procedure.
“The vast cultural heritage and art history of the santeiros of S. Mamede do Coronado are good enough to win any contest. They did not deserve that their victory in the 7 Wonders of Portuguese Popular Culture contest was intrinsically linked to a direct adjustment of the Municipal Chamber of Trofa to guarantee it ”, say the Socialists in the statement.
The issue was raised in the Municipal Assembly last 30, during which the mayor said that the result of the contest “was a great victory.” “We got into this to win. Did the Chamber spend money on phone calls? Yes, it did,” admitted Sérgio Humberto.
JN questioned the Câmara da Trofa, but received no response.
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