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The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, said that it is mandatory to visit the Porto Book Fair, inaugurated today, as it is a “festival of freedom.”
This year, more than in other years, we feel that it is a celebration of freedom after such a long confinement “said Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
The head of state visited, together with the mayor of Porto, the independent Rui Moreira, the event that runs until September 13, in the Gardens of the Palácio de Cristal.
After the confinement as a result of the covid-19 pandemic, the President of the Republic considered that in this event there is “a kind of liberating spirit” that translates into culture.
The culture sector has been “practically reduced to zero” for months, he reaffirmed.
Speaking in a well-organized, pleasant and safe space, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa considered it mandatory to attend the event.
The President of the Republic made sure to visit all the stands and buy books at many of them, throughout which he agreed to the numerous requests for selfies.
Among the many visitors, there were those who offered him books, but also those who raised complaints, especially in relation to the current government, led by the socialist António Costa.
In one of these approaches, confronted by a woman dissatisfied with her salary and with the current difficulties that pointed to criticism of the Government, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa recalled that the current executive was democratically elected.
Tell the Portuguese to vote for another government “, answered.
Among more than 15 minutes of conversation, the woman also asked if the President of the Republic could live with 300 euros a month.
Earlier in the afternoon, accompanied by the mayor of Porto, the head of state paid homage to the memory of the Liberal Revolution of 1820, with the placement of a wreath at the mausoleum where the heart of D. Pedro IV, in the presbytery of the Church of Lapa.
The seventh edition of the Porto Book Fair ends on September 13 and has the motto “Joy until the end of the world”.
