Graça Maria da Fonseca Caetano Gonçalves (born 13 August 1971)[6] is a Portuguese politician who served as Minister of Culture in the government of Prime Minister António Costa since 15 October 2018.[5][7] Fonseca graduated with a law degree from the University of Lisbon, has a master's degree in economics from the University of Coimbra, and obtained a PhD in sociology from ISCTE – University Institute of Lisbon. From 26 November 2015 to 15 October 2018,[8] Fonseca served as Secretary of State Assistant and of Administrative Modernisation.[9]

Graça Fonseca
Minister of Culture
In office
15 October 2018 – 30 March 2022
Prime Minister António Costa[1]
Preceded by Luís Filipe Castro Mendes[1]
Succeeded by Pedro Adão e Silva
Secretary of State Assistant and of Administrative Modernisation
In office
26 November 2015 – 15 October 2018
Prime Minister António Costa[2]
Preceded by Gonçalo Saraiva Matias[3]
Succeeded by Luís Goes Pinheiro[4]
Personal details
Born (1971-08-13) 13 August 1971 (age 52)
Lisbon, Portugal[5]

When she came out publicly, in an interview to newspaper Diário de Notícias in 2017,[10] she was the first gay member of a government cabinet ever to disclose their sexual orientation in Portugal.[11] Since taking office as Minister of Culture in 2018, she is the first openly gay Portuguese government minister.[12]

In July 2020, when asked by a reporter about the pressure cultural workers were facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, instead of responding to the question, she said she had to leave for a late-afternoon drink, using an anglicism that some critics considered insensitive.[13] Her response was widely panned by the Portuguese press.[14][15][16]

References edit

  1. ^ a b José Almeida, São (14 October 2018). "Uma remodelação com peso político". Público (in Portuguese). Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  2. ^ "Costa toma posse quinta-feira às 16h". Público (in Portuguese). 25 November 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  3. ^ "Gonçalo Saraiva Matias - Secretário de Estado Adjunto e para a Modernização Administrativa (XX Governo Constitucional de Portugal)". Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  4. ^ Dinis, Rita (16 October 2018). "Remodelação no Governo. Há dez novos secretários de Estado, cinco permanecem no cargo" [Cabinet reshuffle. Ten new secretaries of State, five remain on their posts]. Observador (in Portuguese). Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  5. ^ a b "Graça Fonseca – Minister of Culture". portugal.gov.pt. Archived from the original on 15 October 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  6. ^ "Graça Fonseca". Socialist Party. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  7. ^ Axel Bugge (October 14, 2018), Portugal's premier reshuffles cabinet, appoints new economy minister Reuters.
  8. ^ Decree of the President of the Republic no. 72-G/2018 (Decreto do Presidente da República 72-G/2018) (in Portuguese). 15 October 2018. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  9. ^ "Graça Fonseca – Secretary of State Assistant and of Administrative Modernisation". portugal.gov.pt. Archived from the original on 15 October 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  10. ^ Câncio, Fernanda (22 August 2017). ""Se calhar no PSD já ninguém liga muito a Passos Coelho" - Entrevista a Graça Fonseca, secretária de Estado da Modernização Administrativa" ["Perhaps in PSD no one cares about Passos Coelho any more" - Interview with Graça Fonseca, Secretary of State Assistant for Administrative Modernisation]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  11. ^ Sapage, Sonia (26 August 2017). "O gesto histórico de Graça Fonseca que também foi incómodo" [The historic step by Graça Fonseca which was also a nuisance]. Público (Porto edition) (in Portuguese). Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  12. ^ "New ministers for Defence, Culture, Health and Economy". Algarve Daily News. 14 October 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  13. ^ "Ministra recusa comentar apoios na cultura e convida jornalistas a beber um "drink"". Jornal Expresso (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2020-08-02.
  14. ^ Tavares, João Miguel. "Um "drink" de fim de tarde". PÚBLICO (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2020-08-02.
  15. ^ ""Enquanto [a ministra] bebe drinks e fala de arte contemporânea, a União dá ajuda espontânea": as rimas de quem ajuda quem passa fome". Jornal Expresso (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2020-08-02.
  16. ^ Lusa. "JP pede demissão da ministra da Cultura que acusa de não ter "noção da realidade"". PÚBLICO (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2020-08-02.