‘Favorita’ Carnaval Block Appeals State Police Decision to Veto Sunday’s Parade

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – On Monday, January 6th, the State Police (PM), under the allegation that the request to parade should have been made 70 days beforehand, vetoed the parade of the ‘Favorita’ Block in Copacabana, scheduled for January 12th, announced by the City Hall as the official opening of Rio’s Carnival.

The block filed an appeal against this decision, on Tuesday, January 7th.

The ‘Sociedade Amigos de Copacabana’ (“Friends of Copacabana Club”) – an association of residents in the South Zone neighborhood – has urged the Prosecutor’s Office to ban the show, under the argument that the parade could disturb the neighborhood.

Unless the PM or the Fire Department approves it, Riotur will not issue the official registration document, the required permit for the parade to take place. This is also a requirement of the State Prosecutor’s Office.

On the other hand, the blocks’ representatives claim that there are far too many demands, creating a burden that the blocks cannot afford.