Political Festival reflects on “post-democracy” with 24 activities in Braga

ANDn a press conference, the festival director, Rui Oliveira Marques, said that there will be three days centered on the defense of the democratic system and the promotion of citizenship, civic intervention and human rights, with young people being the preferred recipients.

For the official, the festival – which also took place in Lisbon this month – intends to act as a “kind of alarm” for the dangers that hang over the democratic system.

“Today, there are several tensions within the democratic system and there are forces that use these tensions to call the system into question”, he explained.

The program includes nine films, including one that revolves around an environmental activist from Siberia who demonstrates against the war in Ukraine.

There are also four exhibitions, on topics such as artificial intelligence, human rights, prison institutionalization and the dreams of Roma children and young people.

In music, the highlight goes to a concert by JP Simões, who will revisit the songs of José Mário Branco.

There will also be workshops on performative speech, creative dance, creation of posters and presentation, the latter translated into a journey into the history and culture of the gypsy community in Portugal.

A “face-to-face” with deputies, a conversation about entrepreneurship, an “almost, almost political” edition of the Monsters of the Year Awards and a meeting around the work of Natália Correia are other points of the program, which also includes a DJ ‘set’ on the Terrace of the Braga Youth Centre.

“In all, there will be 24 activities and more than 20 artists”, said Rui Oliveira Marques.

The mayor of Braga, Ricardo Rio, was also present at the press conference, who classified Festival Politica as a “disruptive and bold project, due to the diversity of its programming”.

Rio also praised the introduction of an initiative linked to youth entrepreneurship in the program.

The director of the Portuguese Institute of Youth and Sports of the North, Vítor Dias, highlighted the topicality of the festival’s theme, at a time when “every day” we see “many societies going backwards” in relation to democracy.

Also Read: ‘Post-democracy’ in discussion from April 21 to 23 at the Festival Política