Agribusiness is strategic and one of Lula's priorities, says Alckmin.
The former governor and current vice-presidential candidate on Lula's ticket advocated for increased credit, international agreements, and investment in logistics.
Lula's website - Former São Paulo governor Geraldo Alckmin said this Thursday (September 8th) that agribusiness is a strategic sector for the country and one of the priorities for 2023. The statement was made during an interview with Rádio Lagoa Dourada FM 105.9, from Paraná. “We have a commitment to agriculture. Rural credit, which is very expensive today,” said the former governor.
Alckmin recalled the sector's strong performance during the governments of former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. “During President Lula's time, interest rates were 3,5%, today they've exceeded 15%. In the past, there was the Moderfrota credit program (Agricultural Tractor Fleet Modernization Program), financing for operating costs and silage. Infrastructure improved, and Brazil's participation in foreign trade increased. And I also want to say that agricultural and grain production almost doubled during the 12 years of the Workers' Party governments,” Alckmin stated.
The former governor also stated that he supports the expansion of international agreements, citing the issue of fertilizers as an example. “Today we are dependent on very few companies, in Russia and Canada. So, I believe we need to invest in the agricultural industry. I am a defender of agribusiness, which generates jobs in both rural and urban areas.”
“Cooperativism is also important, and Paraná is an example. Credit cooperatives need to grow. Service cooperatives, agricultural cooperatives. We will strengthen associativism, improve logistics, make more international agreements, and provide legal security. This is a strategic sector for the country,” he added.
Reconciliation for Brazil to grow
Former São Paulo governor Geraldo Alckmin defended this morning (September 8th), in an interview with Paraná's Lagoa Dourada FM 105.9 radio station, the alliance with former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and stated that the objective is to implement the reforms that Brazil needs to generate jobs, income, and improve education and healthcare.
"Whenever we reach a compromise around projects and proposals, the country can move forward better: consolidate the democratic process, implement the reforms that Brazil needs, make the economy grow faster, generate jobs and income, improve education and health, which we are experiencing a state of denial in the country," he said.
The former governor emphasized the importance of the alliance given the current situation in the country, with the Bolsonaro government. “We are living through an exceptional moment. We have a president who longs for the dictatorship, and if elected, he puts democracy at risk. Bolsonaro doesn't doubt the electronic voting system; he doubts the democratic process. There is a lot of confusion, anger, hatred, and attacks on institutions,” said the former governor of São Paulo.
In the interview, the former governor recalled the early 1970s, when he was studying medicine, was a student leader, and fought against the military regime (1964-1985). In a time of little or no freedom, between 1966 and 1979, there were only the pro-dictatorship National Renewal Alliance (ARENA) and the Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB), which brought together liberal democrats and the center-left, where Lula and Alckmin were active.
Alckmin also mentioned that, alongside Lula, he was part of the Constituent Assembly, led by Ulysses Guimarães, who also worked within the former MDB. He added that upon the return of multi-party politics, the PT supported Mário Covas in the 1989 election for governor of São Paulo. Similarly, the PSDB supported Lula in the second round of that year's presidential election. And when they were adversaries at the polls, the contest was legitimate, never questioning democracy.
“I like to cite Angela Merkel in Germany. She is a Christian Democrat, a more centrist party, and when she became Chancellor she invited the Workers' Party (PT) there, the Social Democrats, the left, to form the government, and Germany took a leap forward,” he added.
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