The Mayor of Caminha, Rui Lages, went to the Municipal Assembly held on the 19th of April, to try to clarify what he did not clarify at the Chamber meeting of the 3rd of April, regarding the purchase of 120 books “25th of April 1974, Thursday” for the amount of €7500.
It should be remembered that at the aforementioned meeting in which this acquisition was discussed, councilors from the O Concelho em Primeiro (OCP) coalition questioned the Chamber about this acquisitionaccusing the executive of having purchased the books for above market value.
In the last Municipal Assembly, in the period before the agenda, Rui Lages came to show and say that after all it was a more expensive “limited and unique” edition (€150) but that the chamber had managed to acquire it for a “symbolic value” of around €66.
The mayor announced that at the end of the meeting he would distribute a copy of the book to each of the deputies and board presidents.
Regarding the opposition’s criticisms at the aforementioned chamber meeting, Rui Lages He made a point of “elucidating” that there are 2 editions of the book, which he displayed and compared.
In reaction to the explanations given by the President of the Chamber, the deputy Jorge Nande I wanted to know the truth: “was the acquisition of the books through a public contract with direct award or was it a covert way of sponsoring a book?”, he asked.
Referring to the justification given by the council for purchasing the books – the municipality’s interest in providing the museum with the aforementioned work – the OCP deputy questioned why the 120 when one or two were enough, “one for the museum, another for the library”. The deputy also took the opportunity to inform that he would not accept the book as he considered that “April is not celebrated with fancy gifts”.
In response, Rui Lages accused “some right-wingers of having difficulty in taking on April, democracy and the carnation revolution”. As for the “truth” requested by Jorge Nandethe president of the Chamber stated that regarding the acquisition of the books there was “no hidden cat with its tail hanging out”.
Not satisfied with the explanations given by Rui Lages, Jorge Nande He came back to ask if the council had bought or sponsored the books, or both.
Rui Lages He said he had not forgotten to respond to anything, limiting himself to reiterating everything he had already said.
As the president of the executive had announced, at the end of the Municipal Assembly, copies of the book were distributed among deputies and board presidents. Just like in the April 3rd council meeting in which the councilor Liliana Silva (OCP) refused the offer, as did the municipal deputies from his coalition.
Tags: Caminha Acquisition book April Thursday topic Municipal Assembly Newspaper
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