In a speech that began by praising "books, culture, and democracy", Alejandro Vaccaro, president of the Fundación el Libro, which organizes the event, strongly criticized Javier Milei and his cuts in public funding, especially in Culture – which the audience noisily supported with applause, cheers, and jeers – and considered that, in the current situation, the fair represents "resistance".

Alejandro Vaccaro said that there is no record of a fair in which the national government was absent, without a stand, and considered that "the excuse that the participation of the National State in the fair implied an expense of 300 million pesos is nothing more than a blatant lie".

"After arduous negotiations, in which we agreed to all their demands, the National Bank decided to withdraw, after many years, its sponsorship of the Fair, stating that the order came 'from above'", he revealed.

In addition to this, the Argentine president, "after scorning" the fair, did not hesitate to ask to participate, to launch his essay "Capitalism, Socialism, and the Neoclassical Trap", which is scheduled for next Sunday, May 12, in the central area of La Rural, where the event is taking place.

However, Alejandro Vaccaro was clear in stating that the presence of the Argentine Head of State at the fair "implies a series of extraordinary expenses that the Fundación el Libro cannot afford".

"There is no money, therefore, everything related to his security and that of the people attending his event will be at his own risk", he warned.

Pointing out the "abrupt loss of purchasing power that is felt in the country", the official lamented that at a time when the book market was beginning to show signs of recovery after the pandemic, it is once again encountering an obstacle.

Alejandro Vaccaro indicated that in 2015, 129 million books were produced, a figure that fell to 48 million in 2023.

This year, the final figure is not written in numbers, but in words: it will be very poor", he said.

For the organizer, this is "a merciless attack on all cultural expressions", which represents an "attack on the heart of culture".

"Participating in the fair this year represents an act of rebellion and resistance. Like never before, this plural and active space will be the central axis around which the repudiation of all cultural forces against the devastating policies proposed by this government will revolve", he said.

The ceremony also included the speech of the Portuguese ambassador, José Ludovice, as a representative of Lisbon, the fair's guest city of honor, in the absence of the mayor, Carlos Moedas, who remained in Lisbon to participate in the April 25 ceremonies.

It was precisely the evocation of this historical event that served as the starting point for the Portuguese diplomat's speech.

"It is an honor to be here on the day we celebrate 50 years of the Carnation Revolution, which allowed the people to conquer freedom, democracy, and dignity. If it had not happened, we would not be here with you today. It is a memorable day for us", he said.

Lusa traveled to Buenos Aires at the invitation of the Lisbon City Council

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