Panel SA: Political demonstrations like Lollapalooza must be free, say event managers

Event companies follow with concern the developments of the decision of the TSE (Superior Electoral Court) that prohibited demonstrations in favor or against any candidate or political party in Lollapalooza last Saturday (27).

For Clinio Bastos, a partner at Camarote Marketing, an events company in Salvador (BA), there have always been political demonstrations in agglomerations, and vetoing them is censorship.

“There’s no way to control it. You can talk to the artist first, but when he goes on stage, it’s his show. What are you going to do? Turn off the microphone?”, he says.

Despite the TSE’s decision, he says he doesn’t believe in a wave of vetoes this year. “Being against the demonstration when it doesn’t interest you is not democratic at all”, says Bastos.

Cristiano Botinha, director of the company V3A, believes that the artist has the right to express art in the way he understands.

“While we would not like the event to become a political platform, we also do not welcome censorship”, he says.

Alessandro Possoni, a partner at Guichê Web, understands that acts must be free, but fears the possible effects of the artists’ demonstrations on large audiences at a time of political polarization experienced by Brazil.

“It’s like a football game. The country is so polarized that when you mix the crowds, the people don’t know how to behave. It’s an election year, and Brazilians have started to get more attuned to politics. we understand how it’s going to be and take special care”, says Possoni.

During the festival, Minister Raul Araújo, from the TSE, classified the political manifestations of singers Pabllo Vittar and Marina at Lollapalooza as electoral propaganda and imposed a fine of R$ 50 thousand for the organization of the festival for new cases.

In his presentation, Pablo made a gesture with his thumb and index fingers, forming the letter L, in support of former President Lula (PT). Afterwards, he paraded among the public with a flag with the PT’s face.

Joana Cunha with Andressa Motter and Ana Paula Branco