Portugal’s new Minister for Culture has concluded a visit to the Algarve with news that there is no news.
Questioned about funding for the Algarve vibrant, yet cash poor raft of cultural activities and notable buildings, João Soares said that the country is in "an emergency situation," that he does not yet know what funds will be available this year for his cultural agenda.
He did add that the current government is willing to "elevate the culture sector" in terms of its funding priorities.
"One must be aware that we are faced with an emergency situation, a very serious one that has resulted from these adventures caused by putting so-called 'markets' above the interests of the country, particularly the cultural interests of the country," said Soares, stressing that the country has faced difficult situations before and knows how to get back on top.
João Soares was speaking to reporters in Faro at the end of his official visit to the Algarve and admitted that it is "absolutely obvious" that the year that has begun will have a shortage of funds for culture, putting the blame on the "tragedy" that resulted from the BES, BPN and Banif taxpayer support operations that have drained the country of billions of euros.
"Unfortunately, a good portion of our financial system has eaten resources that would have been far better used in the field of culture and cultural promotion of the country," said Soares, adding that it was not the Portuguese who had lived beyond their means but the men in the financial system that had ruined the country.
According to the minister, the current Prime Minister, António Costa, has a clear desire to give culture a far more important role than it has had in recent years, particularly from the point of view of the government’s ranking of the Culture Ministry which at the moment is last in the queue when it comes to money.
Asked about the sum allocated for culture in the 2016 draft State Budget, the minister said he was "still not in a position to give an answer" as the government has yet to agree the final budget with Brussels.
In the case of the Algarve region, Soares said it "has a very significant role in cultural activities of the country with a vast and remarkable heritage, and some particularly important buildings."
Soares ended by saying that he had "a very strong connection to the Algarve" and knows "all too well the problems of the Algarve, in cultural terms and beyond."
