“It’s devaluing all three,” stated Rui Galveias of the Sindicato dos Trabalhadores de Espetáculos, do Audiovisual e dos Músicos (Cena-STE), in reference to Culture being combined with Youth and Sports under Margarida Balseiro Lopes.
Similarly, Regis Barbosa, president of the Sindicato dos Trabalhadores de Arqueologia (Starq), expressed concerns that, “more than the minister’s name, it appears the new government will not value Culture. It is fused with other ministries, a solution that does not seem positive.”
Barbosa, who emphasized the union’s openness to dialogue, highlighted the many investments necessary for the sector, particularly regarding the workforce: “It remains insufficient and worsens with the aging of the workforce.”
“It was bad news,” concluded Barbosa from Starq.
Rui Galveias mentioned a continuation from former minister Dalila Gonçalves, whom he described as “very silent, largely absent, and disconnected from the sector’s issues.” He believed there remains a lack of political strategy for a public service of Culture.
“This aligns with what we perceive as past perspectives, it’s a government not very concerned [with solutions] to truly serve Culture workers and the country,” he stated.
Galveias pointed to a “fundamental issue” of “absolute indifference towards the extreme precariousness of the sector,” observing no pathway to end this precariousness within the new structure for the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.
Margarida Balseiro Lopes, previously the Minister for Youth and Modernization, will oversee Culture, Youth, and Sports, as announced on Wednesday.
The implementation of the PRR in cultural heritage and digital transition, the Patronage Law, Fixed Book Price Law, and the new Audiovisual and Cinema Industry Financing Program, currently under public consultation, now fall under the minister’s responsibilities in the XXV Constitutional Government.
The former deputy, Balseiro Lopes, is a vice-president of the PSD and was the lead candidate for Leiria in the May 18 legislative elections. She is closely associated with Luís Montenegro and managed sensitive issues related to the far-right, such as racism and sexual discrimination.
Throughout her tenure, Balseiro Lopes maintained principal political directions in these areas while avoiding controversies, focusing on digital transition and modernizing the country’s administrative framework. She prioritized enhancing the Cidadão Store network, childhood and youth strategies, and combating poverty.
Prime Minister-designate Luís Montenegro presented his second government on Wednesday, featuring 16 ministries, one less than the previous, retaining 13 of the 17 ministers from the outgoing executive.
The XXV Constitutional Government will be inaugurated today at 6 p.m., 18 days post-elections, marking the fastest government formation in Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s presidential terms.
