Opposition blocks 11 million euro project in Guarda

The opposition in the Guarda City Council has postponed the taking out of an €11 million loan to finance the Vale do Cabroeiro regeneration project, which was also due to be awarded this Tuesday by the municipal executive.

The two matters were removed from the agenda of the biweekly council meeting, held exceptionally this Tuesday, with the favorable votes of the three PSD councilors and the elected PS councilor, the majority in the executive.

The decision made the intention of the relative majority, led by the independent Sérgio Costa, unfeasible, and he will file a complaint with the Public Prosecutor's Office.

At stake is the urban regeneration and mobility project for that area of ​​the city, which includes the expansion of the city's industrial park, the residential and urban expansion of the neighborhoods of Luz, Pinheiro, Póvoa do Mileu and Nª Sra. dos Remédios.

The construction of Alameda dos 5 F's is also planned — popularly known as Variante da Ti'Jaquina, awaited for 30 years, which will connect VICEG (Via de Cintura Externa da Guarda) to the city center.

The proximity of local elections and the lack of knowledge of the municipality's financial situation were the justifications presented by the opposition, which, in March of this year, had already rejected a loan request for the project.

"With local elections just a month away, the Socialist Party did not feel this was the time or place to make this kind of decision because awarding the public tender without having a way to pay for it was a futile exercise of power," councilor Adelaide Campos told reporters at the end of the meeting.

The socialist considered that "we cannot commit the next executive to 11 million euros now" and added that "a delay of one or two months, at most, cannot make a difference" in a project that has been expected for 30 years.

Adelaide Campos also emphasized that "we had four years to do it, and we're not going to approve it a month before the end (of the term). That would be political dishonesty."

An opinion shared by Carlos Chaves Monteiro, of the PSD, who believes that the next executive will have to "take responsibility" for taking out the €11 million loan and awarding the contract.

"Discussing this matter at this time is inappropriate. Furthermore, the proposal for a loan of this size, for 20 years with a three-year grace period, is completely unfounded and will burden future generations," he warned.

Another argument is “lack of knowledge” of the municipality’s accounts for the first half of 2025.

"They had to be presented now and this seriously disrupts the normal course of the municipality's life, a situation for which we had to demonstrate our displeasure at such a violation of legal norms and rules," said Carlos Chaves Monteiro.

After the withdrawal from the agenda of the loan contracting and the awarding of the project in Vale do Cabroeiro, for the base price of 9.5 ME, plus VAT, President Sérgio Costa accused the opposition of being “a central bloc against the development of Guarda”.

"The PS and PSD don't want the work to be carried out, nor do they want funding to pay for it. What happened today is truly shameful," criticized the mayor, who is running for a second term.

According to Sérgio Costa, "Today we could have made history, but once again, everything was delayed. Tenders and contracts were approved that will only have consequences in the next term, but on these two points (the opposition) say we can't. It's regrettable."

The Mayor revealed that the executive meeting was suspended for half an hour to hear legal experts and announced that he will take legal action as he believes the points in question cannot be removed from the agenda.

"There was no illegality; it was purely for political reasons, which is perfectly illegal. We're going to send the case to the Public Prosecutor's Office, especially since competing companies can seek compensation from the municipality, and if that happens, those who voted to remove these points will be held accountable," assured Sérgio Costa.

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