The former mayor of Vila Nova de Famalicão, Agostinho Fernandes, reacted forcefully to a Socialist Party proposal to name the Casa das Artes after him. In an open letter addressed to the current mayor, Mário Passos, dated August 29, the former socialist mayor expressed his total opposition to the initiative, classifying the entire process as a set of political-partisan maneuvers and pure mercenarism.
The stance comes almost two months after the proposal was brought to an extraordinary meeting of the municipality on July 3 and rejected by the PSD/CDS majority, with Chega abstaining. The initiative included not only the distinction for Agostinho Fernandes but also the naming of the City Park after former mayor Armindo Costa.
Agostinho Fernandes considered it strange that the PS proposal also provided for a tribute to Armindo Costa, stating that the latter's actions greatly offended the memory and the serious and honorable work of those who preceded him. The former mayor also aimed criticism at the local PSD leadership, expressing surprise at their eagerness to support the socialist proposal to the point of having withdrawn political confidence from Mário Passos for voting against it.
In the open letter, Agostinho Fernandes shifted the credit away from his own figure in the conception and construction of the Casa das Artes, recalling that the project was not the result of an exclusively his decision and was only completed thanks to the work and collaboration of other local officials and staff members. The former mayor expressly demanded that Mário Passos consider that he does not accept and repudiates the use of his name to serve the interests of third parties, categorically distancing himself from any potential new procedures or tribute.
