The 50th anniversary of the 25th of April was celebrated with 'pomp and circumstance' in various parts of the country and in Grândola, the town that gave its name to one of the most emblematic songs of the Carnation Revolution, an event worthy of the date was expected. The local authority invited Paulo de Carvalho, singer of the song 'E Depois do Adeus', which was the first password broadcast on the radio in 1974, to a free show at the Festa da Liberdade, but there are taxpayers who feel that, after all, they paid dearly for the event.

It was Sofia Afonso Ferreira, leader of the Democracia21 project, who launched the starting point for the indignation of several internet users regarding the amount paid by the Grândola City Council to Paulo de Carvalho and AGIR, who joined his father in this commemorative concert of the five decades of April 25, 1974. Using the Portal Base, which provides information on public contracts signed in our country, it is highlighted that this concert cost 109,704.60 euros. Fernando Rocha, Maria Vieira's husband, later 'echoed' the situation and made a similar post on X, the former Twitter.

The truth is that this information can, in fact, be confirmed on the Portal Base. With the designation "music show with Paulo de Carvalho and AGIR on April 24, 2024, at the Parque de Feiras e Exposições, as part of the program of the 50th anniversary celebrations of April 25", the event was awarded to Sons Em Trânsito, the agency that works on AGIR's career, and cost the local authority 109,704.60€, to which VAT was added. In total, the Grândola City Council paid 134,936.66€ for this concert.

On social media, several people have expressed their indignation, considering the amount in question to be excessive. But, is the amount really higher than usual?

The Fama ao Minuto sought to compare this award with similar ones and found that Paulo de Carvalho and AGIR gave another concert together in December of last year, in Silves, which was also free of charge. The show, which took place at the Teatro Mascarenhas Gregório, was presented as the opening ceremony of the 50th anniversary celebrations of April 25 and was awarded for 10,200.00€, totaling 12,546.00€, including VAT.

If we look at other artists and other contexts, Tony Carreira, seen by many as one of the most relevant artists in Portugal, gave a New Year's concert on the last day of last year, in Coimbra, and charged 62,500.00€ for it. With VAT, the final amount was 76,875.00€.

The Xutos & Pontapés, who will be at the Festas de São Pedro, in Póvoa de Varzim, asked this local authority for 75,000.00€, a contract that, including VAT, totaled 92,250.00€.

Contacted by Fama ao Minuto, the Grândola City Council explains that the show involved "more than 50 professionals from outside the municipality", specifying that Paulo de Carvalho went on stage with "eight musicians" and that AGIR was accompanied by a "16-piece orchestra" and the singers Lura and Milhanas. In addition to all this, the local authority states that the amount involves "all the necessary production", which includes "sound, light and image", as well as "travel, food and accommodation for the musicians and technical teams". Finally, a "communication plan" and the "production of five thematic videos" were also made, it is justified.

The Sons Em Trânsito was also contacted. However, the agency declined to provide any clarification and said that "there is nothing to comment on".

[News updated at 08:30 on 05/16/2024 with the clarification from the Grândola City Council]

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