The president of the El Libro Foundation, Alejandro Vaccaro, is in charge of organizing the fair booksent to the president Javier Miley during his opening speech. He denied that the president’s “libertarian” policies and “chain”a ruthless attack on culture«.
At the opening of the event, Vaccaro questioned the presence of the president on his next visit to the fair, scheduled for May 12. On the one hand, the president of the Foundation explained that the president’s trip would require a budget that they do not have. Vaccaro ironically paraphrased the president: “Mr. President, I say this with my hand on my heart, there is no money» about the ability to provide security to the president and give him a stand at the famous event.
“Milei, after insulting our Fair, will not blush and want to participate”
Alejandro Vaccaro confirmed that the president’s participation in the Book Fair “involves a series of extraordinary costs that the Foundation cannot afford” and concluded: “There is no money.” pic.twitter.com/bQA5bACikh
– Soon? (@somoscorta) April 25, 2024
«The President, after insulting our fair, does not blush and ask to participate. It does not register as a reminder of our celebration that the National government has been absent without standing at this event. The excuse that the participation of the national State in the sale meant an expenditure of 300 million pesos is nothing but a clear lie,” he said.
This year, the Book Fair saw its budget reduced, as it did not have the support of the State, as well as one of its biggest supporters: Banco Nación, citing “orders from above.” Even with this cut, President Javier Milei tried to carve out a place for himself at the event. However, the group said that they could not guarantee the security of the president and warned him that the costs related to security had to be borne by himself.
On the other hand, the head of the Foundation said that the Fair «as a cultural beacon in the midst of darkness» which works as a “democratic and plural support where there is a place for all voices and opinions”. In this regard, he said “This chapter of the fair represents a struggle since we held the 48th Buenos Aires International Book Fair in a very complex framework.”
Government and its complicated relationship with culture
The libertarian government of Javier Milei has not been culturally beneficial. Days before the start of the Book Fair, the National Institute of Cinema and Visual Arts (INCA) to close its doors to reorganize them according to the instructions of the new government. he is National Endowment for the Arts and the Theater Institute They almost suffered the same fate. Now, Milei’s “chainsaw” arrived fair booka place that encourages not only literature, but also expression and creativity.
