The voices of writers after the hectic opening of the 2025 Book Fair

As happens every year, the opening ceremony of the Buenos Aires International Book Fair It draws both criticism and applause for speakers whenever they intertwine discourses on culture and politics. In this case, the opening of the 49th edition was no exception.

Juan Sasturian received all the praise for his highly anticipated speech, which lasted just over an hour. In its 26 pages, he cited the great masters of Argentine and world literature, while also referring to the current political, social, economic, and cultural times.

The writers present then paid tribute to Osvaldo Bayer (1927-2018), whose statue was demolished in Patagonia by the National Highway Administration in March of this year. The tribute served as a direct public shaming of the Secretary of Culture, Leonardo Cifelli.

Meanwhile, several cultural and literary figures spoke with Clarín after the event. What were the repercussions of the 2025 Book Fair opening ceremony ?

Alejandro Vaccaro , outgoing president of the El Libro Foundation, made his position clear. “For some years now, the opening ceremony of the Book Fair has become a highly diverse forum where, fortunately, everyone can express their opinions. While those present always have their say, whether it's applause or boos, the most important thing is that everyone's voice could be heard. I deeply value that,” he emphasized.

It's worth noting that Vaccaro had delivered a confrontational speech with Javier Milei's administration at the opening ceremony of the previous Fair in 2024. He had even stated that he could not guarantee the Argentine president's security, having taken office five months earlier, in December 2023.

“Last year, we invited the national authorities. At that time, I spoke with Cifelli. As is public knowledge, I told him: 'If you come, they'll boo you.' It was a different time, a more difficult time : there was a very strong attack on culture. He took my suggestion and didn't come,” he recalled.

“Today, current President Cristian Reinone wisely invited him to the event . No one can guarantee that he'll boo or whistle him, but he can guarantee the opportunity to express himself as we did here. I value that greatly; that's how conflicts are resolved, with the use of words or by using platforms that command such media attention. In a space like the Book Fair, where words reign, it's the best thing that can happen to us,” Vaccaro said.

He also said that " the Fair has two major aspects: one economic and the other cultural . The latter is safeguarded because the cultural programs are fulfilled; guests from all over the world come. The economic aspect is beyond us: we can give people many things, but what we can't do is put money in their pockets so they can buy books. That's impossible."

Claudia Piñeiro was another of those who raised her voice in rejection of the national government and the vicious chainsaw of cuts to Argentine culture. “ I thought Sasturain's speech was very good , with a nice overview of many authors who spoke about reading, which is fundamental,” said the 2022 Booker Prize finalist for her novel Elena sabe.

He also didn't miss Cifelli's defiant speech, which pointed to the current government's cuts and supposed achievements, but failed to mention the writers . "On the other hand, Jorge Macri did, but the rest barely mentioned the authors."

Piñeiro also referred to the protest by the authors against Cifelli when they raised a silhouette of Osvaldo Bayer with the phrase: "We must clarify our past so that it never happens again" as the event barely ended.

"We paid tribute to Osvaldo Bayer since his statue in Patagonia was taken down . That's why a group of writers brought him to the inauguration ceremony," he explained.

Regarding the Fair, he said: “As always, it will be a success. We are going to meet with readers despite the national government's limited participation in everything related to culture.”

On the other hand, writer Sergio Olguín was also present in the audience and gave his perspective. "Sasturain's speech was perfectly aligned with what a speech of this nature should be, where he was able to combine the more literary aspect with a critique of the current social situation ," he commented.

He also analyzed the speeches by Cifelli and Jorge Macri. "They were more or less in line with what one expects from more formal speeches, except for the one by the Secretary of Culture of the Nation: it was a provocative, insulting speech, very much in the style currently adopted by the National Government. In that sense, it is consistent with the policies this government has implemented in all social spheres, including culture. It's basically insulting, making no proposals, and doing nothing to improve the country's situation," he questioned.

Regarding the protest with banners bearing the face of the author of La Patagonia Rebelde , Olguín said: “ It is necessary in every possible way that artists, writers and intellectuals can demonstrate at a time when Argentine culture is being destroyed like the rest of society, in something fundamentally important like our art and our culture that has made us famous in the world is today being mistreated by a government that in a very symbolic way destroyed a statue of Osvaldo Bayer.”

“This serves as a way to intimidate, scare, and generate a kind of fear among those of us in the intellectual field. It's a fear we don't have with this government. As Sasturain said, it doesn't inspire fear in us, but rather rejection and shame, ” he concluded.

Regarding the Fair, he said, "It's something that's always worked. It worked during Argentina's worst years ; it endured the dictatorship and various government crises, and it will continue to do so."

"The Book Fair is the confluence of a book-hungry public, publishers committed to the country, and writers producing literature strongly connected to the national, to Argentina," he concluded.

Finally, writer María Rosa Lojo praised Juan Sasturain's speech, the most anticipated of all, who was also her professor when she was studying Philosophy and Literature at the University of Buenos Aires. " It was a very virtuoso, erudite, complex, and finely crafted work that combined irony, humor, and sarcasm," said Lojo, a prominent cultural figure in the City of Buenos Aires in 2023.

“Sasturain displayed a profound linguistic analysis of many terms we use in everyday speech, a conceptual analysis, and a recollection of a lifetime of Argentine authors who have worked in this field of humor. It was an ethical and philosophical message for today's society : what are we doing with these difficult times we live in?”

Lojo also addressed the event in general: “ There was a spicy element to it when the Secretary of Culture appeared , launched his provocations , and was met with a response. It created an awkward, unnecessary situation .”

Regarding the Fair, he considered that " it's a good stage to share with readers who are co-creators : if it weren't for someone reading, books wouldn't exist in the real sense. The book object is just that, an object that's there, mute, that has no meaning until someone reads it."

Finally, the renowned writer and researcher gave her opinion on the current cultural situation. “ If anything characterizes Argentines, it's creativity and the ability to endure . Artistic activity always saves, contains, creates worlds, and projects. It's a gift that flourishes and is cultivated in Argentina.”