In a post this Wednesday on social media, the Azambuja Parish Council announced that in the events it organizes, “it will take into account when choosing artists whether they have opposed our traditions.” Communication came after 240 people signed an open letter in which they asked about the end of the broadcast of the bullfight on the RTP. In a conversation with PÚBLICO, Chairman of the Board Ines Luro defends the decision, dismisses it as censorship and leaves the question: “If I sign a motion to end this type of performance, what does it mean, as an artist, to go on to perform at these parties? “.
Signed by musicians such as Adolfo Luxuria Canibal, Pedro Abrunjosa or Ana Bacallau, actresses such as Rita Blanco and Eunice Muñoz, writer Dulce Maria Cardoso or conductor Antonio Victorino d’Almeida.and many more open letter was published this Monday. Speaking to Finance Minister Joao Lean and Secretary of State for Film, Audiovisual and Media Nun Artur Silva, she expressed her desire to see the RTP bullfight to “finally free public television from the show. which are based on violence against animals and normalize behaviors such as bullfighting. “
Following the position of the Azambuja parish council, comedian Nuno Markle, one of the subscribers to the open letter, wrote on his Facebook account that “an artist with an opinion against bullfight deserves to be blacklisted by Azambuja.” Diogo Faro, also a comedian and email subscriber, wrote at the beginning of a long post on the same social network: “To let you know that PIDE no longer exists, in case you didn’t get it. “. Later, in this way, he justified his decision to subscribe to the letter. “I’m not even going to dwell on the civilizational stage we are still in, which allows not only the continued existence of bullfighting, but also have people who enjoy torturing – and seeing torture – animals. But the fact that this is still a ‘spectacle’ supported by the money of all taxpayers is as absurd as it is embarrassing for the country. “
Ines Luro says she is surprised at the influence that a Facebook post about the parish council she chairs has been deleted in the meantime, and she justifies this as it creates “a low-impact civil war between Taurus and Anti-Taurus. … formulations on which criminal cases were still initiated ”. Ines Luro denies censorship charges: “She said that [os artistas serem anti-touradas] it will be a criterion to be taken into account ”- and contextualizes the decision. The Azambuja Parish Council only organizes “one big party a year” in September in honor of the patron saint of the parish, Nossa Senor da Assunçao (according to him, the parish’s annual budget does not allow hiring artists throughout the year). He points out that the main ingredients are “religion and bullfighting.” During the festival, among other things, there is a place for the consecration of cattle, for the start and the run of the bulls. “There are our traditions, the religious component is related to bullfighting, and concerts are a fun moment to extend the party for later.”
Noting that the organization of the festival, in addition to the parish council, is provided by the Association of Puisada do Campino, which is engaged in the protection of bullfighting culture, and the parish of Azambuja, Ines Luro argues that this decision is “not radical”. : “It will be taken into account that [de um artista ser anti-tourada]that will be reflected and discussed with our partners. ” He insists on the question: “What artist who signed the open letter would like to participate in this party?” Even “for the artist’s own safety,” he says. Given the importance, he notes, of the tradition of bullfighting in the district and in the region, “with livestock farms in the municipality, pitchfork groups and various communities associated with the world of bullfighting,” as well as the economic impact of these two Great annual festivals in Azambuja – in addition, As mentioned above, Feira de Maio is traditionally held – artists publicly defending the end of bullfighting risk being met with hostility by fans, warns Ines Luro.
This year, Ines Luro predicts that given pandemic, you can not hold the holidays of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The chairman of the Azambuja Parish Council, elected by the PS, from which she resigned during the current term, will be the candidate for the Azambuja City Council from Chega in the next municipal elections. When asked if she will retain the position of “taking into account” the position of the artists against bullfighting when hiring for exhibitions promoted by the chamber, if elected as mayor, she replies to PÚBLICO: “If elected, I hope no one will play with cultural the identity of my country ”.