The proposal was put forward at the Fundicao Progresso, in the city center, where the president took part in a meeting with representatives of the cultural sector as part of his campaign activities for the October elections.

  The gathering, dubbed “Culture with Lula,” brought together around a hundred artists—including Chico Buarque, Zeca Pagodinho, Paulinho da Viola, Daniela Mercury, Lenine, Chico Cesar, Fernanda Abreu, and Zelia Duncan—as well as the Minister of Culture, Margareth Menezes.

  Addressing the artists and cultural workers, Lula argued that amending the Constitution would guarantee the continuity of the sector’s public programs and initiatives regardless of changes in government.

  “For Culture to be truly enduring, we must enshrine our vision for culture in the Constitution,” stated the president, who called on deputies and senators to discuss the possibility of introducing a constitutional amendment to that end.

  According to Lula, cultural policies should not be altered or halted every time there is a change in the Executive branch.

  The president recalled that, upon completing his second term, he had sought to consolidate the initiatives developed during his eight years in office.

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