Mercadante: I hope the PSDB returns to the path of social democracy.

247 - Former minister Aloizio Mercadante, in an interview with TV 247, spoke about the situation of the PSDB, the party historically antagonistic to the PT. Mercadante recalled respected figures from the party known for defending democracy, such as Mário Covas and Franco Montoro, but stated that the party associated itself with the coup against former president Dilma Rousseff and, thus, facilitated the rise of Jair Bolsonaro.

Mercadante said he hopes for the PSDB's return to the field of social democracy and progressivism, but he did not shy away from criticizing the party and pointing out its responsibility in Bolsonaro's rise. "I want to say very transparently and sincerely: I hope [that the PSDB returns to the path of social democracy]. We are parties that have different trajectories; they were two structuring axes in the disputes since '89, we always came in first or second place and they always came in first or second."

“In the last four presidential elections we won, and in 2018 what happened, happened because they participated in the coup, they associated themselves with the coup, they destroyed the pillars of democracy and handed over to the far right what is now turning against them. But I want to remind you that the PSDB had figures like Mário Covas, I was a parliamentarian with him, we were together in many campaigns, including in the fight for democracy, there was Franco Montoro. How did Mário Covas position himself in '89, when it was Collor, neoliberalism, or Lula? He supported Lula. Franco Montoro supported Lula. So the PSDB has a historical sector committed to democracy. How can it be that at a moment like this, with an obscurantist figure who defends torture, defends censorship, who had a torturer as a hero, the PSDB remains silent or votes in this tragedy?” he said.

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