Rio de Janeiro mayor asks governor to evaluate holding fireworks display on New Year’s Eve

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes, met with Governor Claudio Castro on Monday (6) to discuss the cancellation of the official New Year’s Eve party in the city.

In his Twitter profile, Paes said he asked for a meeting between the two Scientific Committees, municipal and state, to assess the possibility of maintaining the fireworks display on Copacabana Beach. According to the mayor, municipal Health Secretary, Daniel Soranz, will negotiate with the state.

“I was just tonight with Governor Claudio Castro. I asked him to take to his scientific committee the possibility of holding, at least, the fireworks in Copacabana and some central points of the city. Daniel Soranz will lead the negotiations about what can be done,” stated the mayor.

A first meeting between the city and the state of Rio is scheduled to take place this Wednesday (8). Last Saturday (4), Eduardo Paes used social networks to announce the cancellation of New Year’s Eve celebrations.

The mayor said that the decision not to have the party was based on a recommendation from the scientific committee of the Rio state government, which warned about the risks generated by the new variant. Hours later, he held a press conference confirming that there would be no party in Copacabana.

“We respect science. There are diverging opinions among scientific committees; we will always stick to the most restrictive. The City Hall Committee says it can. The State Committee says no. So it can’t. We are going to cancel the official New Year’s Eve celebration in Rio”, said the mayor.

CARNAVAL MAINTAINED – FOR NOW.

The municipal administrator highlighted that he decides with sadness but that it is not feasible to promote the event without the consent of all health authorities. “Unfortunately, we have no way to organize a party of this size, in which we have many expenses and logistics involved, without the minimum of time for preparation,” he assured.

About Carnaval 2022, the mayor affirmed that the festivities would continue.

“There are three months left until Carnaval. I will only decide if the scientific committee says you can or cannot have it. I always follow science. Hopefully, we won’t have to cancel Carnaval, which is important not only for the country’s culture but also for the economy,” said the mayor in a press conference.