The event in question is scheduled for October 17 at the CCB Conference and Meeting Center, marking the first meeting of the Patriots Foundation, described as “an organization linked to the European far-right with members from various countries,” according to comments from socialist representatives.
In a parliamentary query directed to the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Margarida Balseiro Lopes, the PS bench is seeking to determine whether the CCB’s board of directors was previously informed of this event and the criteria governing the space’s use and rental.
The PS is also calling for the Government to clarify the contractual framework of this event, specifically if a commercial rental agreement was signed and if the procedure adhered to the CCB’s internal rules, questioning whether its occurrence disrupted the “normal functioning of the center’s cultural programming.”
PS MP Paulo Lopes Silva stated in remarks to Lusa that while the socialists “are not seeking to have the CCB managed from an ideological control perspective,” it is unacceptable for an event promoting ideas “contrary to the construction of a democratic and plural society” to take place in a space that should uphold opposite values.
He argued that it is a matter of lacking criteria and emphasized the need for greater strictness, especially since the space is public, cultural, and governmental, where cultural policy naturally involves human appreciation, community growth, and promoting values of tolerance.
Lopes Silva further asserted that “what’s happening at the CCB” reflects a “lack of scrutiny by the authority” and an absence of “clear and transparent criteria in managing public spaces or those managed by public authorities.”
The MP reported receiving information from cultural sector agents that “the criteria for access to the CCB are not always applied consistently.” According to him, several promoters mentioned that the center, in some instances, conducts preliminary scrutiny on the initiatives’ objectives to evaluate their alignment with its cultural line and strategy before approving space rentals.
The PS also requests Margarida Balseiro Lopes to restore “normal administrative functioning at the CCB,” questioning whether this lack of normality influenced the decision regarding this event.
On October 20, the CCB board informed Lusa that “the referenced event took place following a room rental at the CCB Conference and Meeting Center for hosting a private event, whose specific content was unknown.”
“The CCB Conference and Meeting Center organizes dozens of private events monthly, promoted by third-party entities, and has been active in the events market since its founding in 1993, initially prompted by Portugal’s first EU Presidency. It enjoys considerable prestige as a service provider in this area, guided by principles of legality, freedom, and tolerance,” noted the CCB administration.
