Portugal will have “enormous benefit” from WYD, says Santos Silva
The President of the Assembly of the Republic, Augusto Santos Silva, does not believe that the controversies related to the costs of the World Youth Days tarnish the image of Portugal and defends that the country will have an “enormous benefit” with the event. He also guarantees that Parliament will monitor the actions of the Government and municipalities.
Asked whether Portugal’s image is tarnished, Augusto Santos Silva answers best: “No way”. The person in charge also considers that there is no social contestation.
“On the point that interests Parliament, which is the global dimension and meaningI don’t see any other feeling in the Portuguese population other than joy of having the journeys“.
Speaking to journalists during a visit to the headquarters of the World Youth Daysin Lisbon, stresses that the religious practice “deserves all respect”.
“They are probably one and a half million young people around the worldfrom more than a hundred countries, gathered in Portugal has in itself a Added significance for the Portuguese Parliament”.
The President of the Assembly of the Republic adds that he is inwork to deepen forms of cooperation with young people:
“We can take the opportunity to mobilize young people in Lisbon and Loures so that the mobilization, be it religious or civic, just like the concern of the global problems of the world such as oceans, peace, security, environment, preservation of biodiversityetc.”.
Augusto Santos Silva also mentions that “all cost-benefit analyzes” show a “enormous benefit for Portugal”.