Minas Gerais court suspends funds for Ana Castela concert

The Court of Justice of Minas Gerais (TJMG) has upheld the suspension of public funds intended for a concert by singer Ana Castela at the 40th Festa da Banana in Santa Bárbara do Tugúrio. The decision follows a public civil action by the Minas Gerais Public Prosecutor's Office (MPMG) questioning the reasonableness of municipal spending on festive events.

Prosecutors noted that the total planned expenditure for the festival's musical attractions reached approximately R$ 1.8 million, an amount exceeding the municipality's estimated own revenue. Investigations indicated that in recent years, the administration has redirected funds originally earmarked for essential services, such as health, education, and infrastructure, to finance public festivities.

The court specifically maintained the suspension regarding Ana Castela's performance, which involved a fee of R$ 900,000. While the judge noted formal budgetary provisions, the ruling highlighted concerns regarding the proportionality of such spending given the town's financial reality. The municipality is prohibited from making new payments or transferring resources to the production companies and faces a daily fine of R$ 200,000 for non-compliance. Other scheduled performances for the event remain authorized.