With the elections over, the results evaluated, and Roman blood oaths and theatrical betrayals, the universe moved on and a proposal that I believe is essential for the future of the Region was finally brought up for debate. I am referring to the amendment to the Regional Legislative Decree (DLR) concerning the Legal Regime for the Support of Cultural Activities (RJAAC), which contained an in-depth review, appropriate to the current situation and reality felt within cultural activities.

A proposal capable of responding to the apocalyptic scenario left to us by the last two governments of José Manuel Bolieiro in this sector.

Proposed by the Left Bloc, with amendments from the Socialist Party and various contributions from cultural agents across our islands, a worthy document was drawn up, which I know well and which can be consulted by anyone interested in understanding what was at stake.

The proposal was rejected. Without much debate, it must be said. And with a lot of theatrics thrown in.

What should and could have been a debate of arguments, with greater or lesser legitimacy, quickly descended into a theater of vanities, as we only see when it comes to culture. The Portuguese right wing has always led us down the wrong path in this sector. But as the world seems to become poorer in terms of ideas, culture is increasingly attacked, barbarically and without logic.

This was the case on October 14, at 3:15 p.m., when the Plenary began its round of interventions on the proposed amendment to the DLR in question.

The Secretary for Culture, who still holds the portfolio, even though her interest in it is doubtful, was the first to take the floor. She spoke for a few minutes to say that her government had presented an amendment to the Regional Regulatory Decree (DRR) that ensures the regulation of the support system, and that this work had been done in a “union negotiation” model, to shield herself with her previous experience in that sector. In doing so, she made clear a wide range of problems. First of all, the union negotiation model that she defended in the past cannot and should not be applied to cultural agents. She then stated that the legislative proposal in question would not be beneficial because the new regulation was working and needed to be analyzed.

What became clear is that the Secretary, with the portfolio in question, seemed to suggest that she was unaware of the difference between a DLR and a DRR, considering that she had solved all the problems of cultural agents with one regulation. Suffice it to say that a DRR, regardless of the people consulted, is a unilateral decision, in this specific case, a decision by the Regional Government, which claimed to be transformative, transparent, and wanted to focus decisions on debates in plenary.

However, it appears that the Regulation has not worked as expected, with much criticism from those working in culture, and that it does not meet basic needs, which can only be truly addressed with new legislation. Unfortunately, it seems that, in the end, what matters are photographic records in “cool” settings, having a few drinks with some artists and saying that one is culturally productive.

This was followed by arguments from the parties that support the current government, which have already accustomed us to their apparent contempt for people working in the cultural sector, with the old, and still unused, rhetoric of subsidy dependence. Inevitably, accusations were heard that the left is elitist, with the usual diatribes, without ever recognizing that true elitism lies in the neoliberal ideology that the PSD is trying to force-feed in order to survive in the quagmire that the political right has become.

For its part, the Liberal Initiative rejected the proposal, stating that it was good, but that the Liberals would do better. Meanwhile, people working in culture despair.

Even so, the president was downcast that day, saying little about culture, as he usually does. He limited himself to distrusting cultural agents, as usual, reading a letter, probably brought by donkey or horse. On the part of the PPM, there was also the reading of a message, in a subdued tone, perhaps because there is a gap in medical services on the island of Corvo that needs to be filled soon.

The sole BE deputy and PS deputy Marta Matos defended the proposal in question, making it clear that a cultural agent is as important as the companies that the

right likes to protect at all costs. In fact, the scheme should not be understood as support or a subsidy, but rather as an investment that the Region is making in its cultural economy, which is just as relevant, if not more so, than other economies that entrepreneurs are trying to sell us at all costs.

The proposal presented by the BE and seconded by the PS received almost two dozen positive opinions from cultural agents. All of them presented measures to improve the Legislative Decree and called for a necessary change in the sector. These are the same agents who have repeatedly said that the new regulation does not work, that the levels of support are “smoke and mirrors,” and that the digital platform is as broken as the Regional Government’s action strategy. The proposal was rejected. The Azorean Parliament listened to some of the elected representatives, but did not listen to those who work in culture. It failed, as Bolieiro’s government usually fails, especially on cultural issues. Meanwhile, being a cultural agent on our islands is a risk, which is regrettable, especially when the preliminary proposal for the Regional Budget for 2026 foresees a substantial cut in the budget allocated to culture.

I will conclude by quoting the words of Deputy Marta Matos, which I identify with and am very proud of: “Culture is not incidental, it is fundamental, and cultural agents are not beggars, they are partners.” A slogan to be printed on T-shirts, stickers, notebooks, and other accessories. Marta, when we defend what we believe in, genuinely, it comes from the soul and the heart. As only you know how to do. Congratulations!

Alexandra Manes is from Flores Island but lives in Terceira Island, Azores. She is a regular contributing writer for several Azorean newspapers, a political and cultural activist, and has served in the Azorean Parliament.

NOVIDADES will feature occasional opinion pieces from various leading thinkers and writers from the Azores, providing the diaspora and those interested in the current state of the Azores with a sense of the significant opinions on some of the archipelago’s issues.

Translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL).