Lula Pushes Constitutional Guarantee for Culture at Rio Campaign Event

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva appeared alongside artists and cultural figures in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday, using a campaign event to press for a constitutional amendment that would make cultural policy a lasting state commitment.

Speaking at Fundição Progresso in the city's Lapa district, Lula argued that support for the cultural sector should not be altered or dismantled whenever a new government takes office. "For us to make culture fully permanent, we need to put in the Constitution what we want for culture," he said, calling on lawmakers present at the gathering to take up the proposal.

The event drew prominent Brazilian musicians, including Chico Buarque, Paulinho da Viola, Daniela Mercury, Lenine and Fernanda Abreu, along with Culture Minister Margareth Menezes and other political allies. It came 11 days before the first round of the presidential election on October 4, as Lula entered the closing stretch of his reelection bid.

Lula also returned to a campaign promise to shut down online betting companies operating in Brazil. In addition, he criticised former President Jair Bolsonaro's decision to abolish the Culture Ministry during his tenure, noting that the ministry was restored after he returned to office in 2023.

During his remarks, Lula linked cultural investment to education, saying young people's vocabulary is being eroded by the internet's emphasis on speed and coded communication. "If we want education to be a high point of Brazilian society, we have to invest in culture," he said.

He also described culture as an economic driver, recalling that his government had strengthened the Culture Ministry and framed cultural policy not only in artistic terms but also in terms of its contribution to the country's GDP.