PT secretary: Alliance with centrão is democratic insurance – 03/10/2023 – Power

The general secretary of the PT, Henrique Fontana, defines the expansion of the alliance between the government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) and the centrão parties as “democratic insurance”.

“Broadening this base means expanding our democratic insurance,” said the former deputy in an interview with Sheet.

Asked about how the government would accommodate parties that were allied with former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL), the PT advocates opening negotiations.

“If the PP, through its leaders, President Ciro Nogueira and Arthur Lira [presidente da Câmara]open this dialogue with the government, we don’t have to be prejudiced.”

As Minister Juscelino [Filho, das Comunicações] was maintained by Lula, do you think it is possible to demand loyalty from União Brasil? I am very hopeful that this generous sign of government composition, which President Lula is conducting, by inviting parties beyond the left, will progressively generate a solid base. On the issue of Juscelino, I understand that the work being done is for União Brasil to consolidate itself as a base. These things are never iron and fire. You give signs and obviously seek fidelity. This case of Juscelino gained importance. Now, it’s a page turned.

What should be the PT’s relationship with the president of the Chamber, Arthur Lira (PP-AL), especially at a time when the PP federation is negotiating with União Brasil? I see a change in both his driving and ours. There is a mix of necessary pragmatism in politics here because we are elected to govern and make the changes that the people need.

The president of the PT, Gleisi Hoffmann, he even spoke out against measures that ended up being adopted by the government, such as the increase in fuel costs. Do you agree with her opinion? I’m very in tune. We and other parties are the left wing of this government and we have center allies.

When, for example, there is a debate about the best time to reencumber, what is the best format for tax reform, it is natural that there is a difference of opinion. I support her driving a lot. [Gleisi]. In the same way that if you ask me what I think of the management of [ministro da Fazenda, Fernando] Haddad, I’m finding it excellent.

There is an expectation that at least part of the PP, Republicans and even the PL will enter the government base. Will the PT change its stance in relation to these parties that made up Bolsonaro’s base? Step by step. I imagine that the chance of the PL entering the government is zero. It’s Bolsonaro’s party. I do not believe that the extreme right will be left without a party to organize its action. If the PP comes to the table to negotiate influence in the government, we have to be open.

But taking up space on the esplanade? Then it would be starting at the end. If the PP, through its leaders, President Ciro Nogueira and Arthur Lira, opens this dialogue with the government, we don’t have to be prejudiced. As secretary general of the PT, I am fighting for the party to have the greatest influence in government functions.

Do you think that the PT should be willing to make room inside the Esplanade to accommodate these new allies? When this situation arises, under the leadership of President Lula and the [ministro das Relações Institucionais, Alexandre] Padilha, the base has to find a solution.

Does this also apply to Republicans? OK.

In an interview with Folha, Gleisi said that the PT has already given up too much space in the government. For now, this is very much in the realm of hypotheses. The key is for the government to have a broader parliamentary base. Especially because we are living in a hyperpolarized Brazil, because of all these extreme right networks, because of the politics of hate and intolerance, this [base mais ampla] it is a kind of important democratic insurance.

I am much more concerned with establishing a long-lasting power project, under President Lula’s leadership, than with what will happen next month. So, broadening this base means expanding our democratic insurance.

There are those who say that Lula was hasty when he said he would not run for re-election. What’s your assessment? Ideally, he should lead this process. This is not the time to discuss who will be a candidate. Lula has to lead and prepare this coalition for a long period of power, because the extreme right was defeated in elections, but it still has significant political power in society, fortunately a minority. We cannot neglect.

Does this project have to be headed by the PT? It does not always have to be the PT at the head of this coalition. The other parties that make up our front have qualified cadres. If Lula says he wants to continue leading one more period, that’s the best.

How to combat antipetism? The party has to face this as a central task. Anti-PTism was methodically constructed as a fundamental tool of the extreme right in the culture war. You have to fight with your example, the way you govern the country, the way you act.

We also have to carry out a permanent dialogue with our militancy and our sympathizers so that prejudice is permanently fought. The 59 million Brazilians who voted for Bolsonaro are not all of the extreme right.

During the campaign, Bolsonaro used corruption as ammunition against the PT. Do you think the PT still owes explanations to voters? Voters are interested in fighting corruption. Nobody likes to see tax money slipping away in a valley of corruption.

The PT, from my point of view, produced governments that had many achievements in the process of combating corruption. Every government faces problems. Look at the example of Petrobras, which was the most visible. There were corruption problems at Petrobras during the periods in which we governed, as they occurred in periods prior to our government and in those that came after us as well.

We have to continue demonstrating our ability to fight corruption and we cannot be afraid to talk about this issue. People were punished. A collective judgment cannot be made. Saying that PT members are corrupt is totally unfounded and unfair. Now we have open ground to govern again and recover even more people who were not with us.

X-RAY

Henry Fontana, 63

A doctor, graduated from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, he was councilor of Porto Alegre from 1993 to 1999. He was elected federal deputy for six terms. He held the position of leader of the government in the Chamber in different periods in the Lula and Dilma Rousseff (PT) governments. In 2023, he assumed the general secretary of the PT.