The President of the Republic, who has already assumed himself as an “eternal lover of books”, marked this Friday, once again, at the inauguration of the Porto Book Fair, where he highlighted the “importance of reading” in the formation of people. .
The day he traveled to Angola to attend the funeral of former president José Eduardo dos Santos, scheduled for Sunday, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa took advantage of the event to buy books for the “eight-hour trip to Luanda”.
It’s an eight-hour drive, it’s good for reading,” he said, as he walked through the supports accompanied by the mayor of Porto, the independent Rui Moreira.
Despite still being in Portuguese territory, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, already thinking of Angola, spent more than 97 euros on the purchase of books about that country.
“Thank you very much for your support, Mr. President,” fired the bookseller who, until the last purchase, tried to convince him to take “one more book.”
While the act was taking place, in the gardens of the Palacio de Cristal, the Head of State confided, among the many requests for selfieswhat your passion for reading is “eternal”.
Calling himself “passionate and collector of books”, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa revealed that he has already sent more than 200,000 volumes to the library of Celorico de Bastos, his homeland, throughout his life.
“The goal is that others and not me benefit from what is essential for everyone’s training,” he stressed.
Considering that either you like books or not, the President of the Republic classified as “disturbing” the fact that the vast majority of Portuguese I have not read a bookparticularly during the Covid-19 pandemic.
And, in a clear incentive to reading, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa recalled that there are several ways to read a book, whether in paper format or online.
Also “passionate about books”, the mayor of Porto said he was “very happy” to see so many people buying books, especially young people, and many children participating in activities.
This is not just a book fair, it has a very cultural aspect. We call it the Book Fair, which is the more traditional name, but there is a huge set of activities that go from music to everything that has to do with the visual arts”, she underlined.
The 9th edition of the Porto Book Fair, which opened its doors today, lasts 17 days, until September 11, and offers more than 100 activities, talks, lessons, workshops, concerts, movies and activities for babies , children and youth.
This year the motto is poetry, with tributes to the writers Ana Luísa Amaral and Manuel Gusmão on the program, as well as special attention to Brazilian literature, to commemorate 200 years of the country’s independence.
Source: Observadora
