Poor people don’t know what left and right are, says Tarcísio – 02/15/2023 – Politics

Governor Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans) said this Wednesday (15) that poor people do not know what is right and left in politics and that the class needs a solution to immediate problems.

The statement was made at an event held by the BTG Pactual bank, alongside the governors of Rio Grande do Sul, Eduardo Leite (PSDB), and Paraná, Ratinho Júnior (PSD).

Tarcísio’s statement occurred in the context of a question about polarization in the country.

Despite having been elected in the wave of polarization as the godson of Jair Bolsonaro (PL), the governor responded to a question from moderator Cila Schulman posed to the three guests on how to “recover this voter who is kidnapped by polarization”.

“I understand that there is a population that is very needy and depends on us. I am often asked, what’s up, are you from the right? . The poor don’t know what’s right, what’s left.”

“He needs a roof, he needs shelter, protection, he needs health, the resolution of his immediate problems, a reduction in waiting times for elective surgeries”, said Tarcísio.

Tarcísio stated that the right and left agenda converge at many times and that the difference is in the path to the goals. The governor has embraced themes that were demonized by Bolsonarism, such as the defense of the environment.

However, it maintains loyalty to the agenda of the former Minister of Economy, Paulo Guedes, on privatizations. At this point, he mentioned that the relationship will be republican with the government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), but he stressed that the state will oppose it through actions.

“Now, we will do the counterpoint here. Where is the counterpoint? Will it be in the fight? No, it will be in the action. It will be in a large concession program, privatization, public-private partnership, great downsizing program, administrative reform. For us show that it is possible to make social policy by showing where the resource will come from”, he said.

Tarcísio repeated that the state plans to carry out privatizations and concessions, citing Emae (Metropolitan Water and Energy Company), highways, intercity train linking the capital to Campinas and public-private partnerships as one to revitalize the center.

He also defended the privatization of the Port of Santos, administered by the Union, an issue that he devised as Minister of Infrastructure under Bolsonaro and is now trying to maintain under Lula.

He also criticized issues that he sees as outdated, which have resurfaced in the Lula government.

“On the one hand, I am concerned when we see issues that have been overcome return to the agenda, such as the reversal of privatizations, autonomy of the Central Bank, I think we should not be discussing this. On the other hand, I see a Congress that in a way maintains the liberal profile “, he said, adding that he believes that tax reform can move forward.

The speech of the other governors present at the event followed the same line as Tarcísio.

“The political debate in Brazil seems to be much more centered on finding people to blame for problems than on finding solutions. The past government blamed governors, the Federal Supreme Court, everything that could not be done. The current government now blames the government. Central Bank, of this or that, of the market. The role of a ruler is not to look for someone to blame, it is to look for solutions”, said the governor of Rio Grande do Sul, Eduardo Leite.

Ratinho Júnior, who also criticized the polarization, also stated that he does not believe that the tax reform will advance and that PT governments do not have a reformist history.