'The interim government wants to blame the poorest for poverty,' says Dilma.

Da Current Brazil Network - "We pay municipalities for inclusion in public policies. They (the interim government) want to do the opposite: pay to exclude," said President Dilma Rousseff this Thursday (7), regarding a complaint made by former Minister of Social Development and Fight against Hunger Tereza Campello. "The provisional government intends to pay municipalities to remove families from the Bolsa Família program. This initiative shows how our project is completely different from theirs," she stated.

Alongside Tereza, the president participated this morning in a conversation with internet users via Facebook. "We compensate municipalities when they maintain a well-organized registry, monitoring school attendance and children's health. We also compensate municipalities to ensure that Bolsa Família beneficiaries have access to professional qualification courses. We also compensate for the Active Search program, which locates and includes families in need in appropriate public policies," the president explained.

Dilma has been holding debates on social media accompanied by former ministers. Today, the president was more serious than in previous conversations and responded to internet users with more firmness. "We are serious because the subject demands it. What is being announced about the dismantling of social programs is extremely serious. But the mood is good, we remain vigilant and mobilized, and certain that society will not allow setbacks."

Asked how society can ensure that Michel Temer's interim government does not continue with setbacks in the fight against poverty, Dilma stated that the only form of resistance is "to maintain attention, vigilance, and mobilization." "All our programs were created by law, and most have been in operation for over ten years. It is absurd to interrupt or change programs that are recognized worldwide for their results," she said.

"Since May 12th (the date of Dilma's removal from office by the Senate), the interim government has only talked about cutting social programs. The justifications are many and false: that people are leaving their jobs, that there are many frauds in social programs, or that it is necessary to find ways out of the Bolsa Família program. The logic of all the interim government's proposals is to criminalize and blame the poorest for poverty. The coup is against the poor," stated Dilma. "Our proposal is different: to work for social inclusion and support people to overcome a historical cycle of inequality that marks Brazilian society."

She added that it is possible for the country to weather economic crises without cuts to social programs. "The Bolsa Família program serves 47 million people, investing only 0,47% of GDP. It's an inexpensive program. Cuts should be unthinkable, especially during a crisis, which is when families need protection the most. Every R$1 invested in the program brings a return of R$1,78 to the economy. In other words, it's proven that the program helps economic growth. What surprises us is that, when it comes to cutting spending, the only area that comes up is social welfare," she said.