Aécio to El País: "The people expect more from the government"
Brazilian presidential candidate Aécio Neves, from the PSDB party, speaks to a Spanish newspaper about the current political climate and economic situation; "The next four years will be very tough for Brazil," predicts Aécio Neves; "We need a firm government"; the senator from Minas Gerais also says he believes his party colleague José Serra's ambitions are "legitimate," but reminds that "the unity of the PSDB is the main fuel" for the party to win the 2014 elections; "The Bolsa Família program is deeply rooted," acknowledged Aécio, presenting his view on the government's most popular social program. "But for the PT it's an end point, while for us it's a starting point. Brazil cannot live exclusively on this," he stated.
247 - If it is proven that PSDB politicians are involved in the alleged cartel scheme involving multinational companies in bidding processes for trains and subways in São Paulo, they must be punished, argues Senator Aécio Neves (PSDB-MG), in an interview with the Spanish newspaper El País. "If there is anyone linked to the PSDB who hasn't come forward yet, they should also be punished," he stated. So far, names such as Senator Aloysio Nunes and São Paulo Secretary José Aníbal have been mentioned in the complaint filed by a former Siemens executive.
In the lengthy interview published by El País, the PSDB presidential candidate also discusses the trial of the so-called "Tucano mensalão," which involves the misappropriation of public funds for the campaign of Congressman Eduardo Azeredo (PSDB) for governor of Minas Gerais in 1998. He argued that the case "should have been judged a long time ago" and, like the accusations in São Paulo, that "if there was wrongdoing or a crime, the people involved must be punished exemplarily."
The Portuguese version of the Spanish publication was launched last week, featuring exclusive interviews with President Dilma Rousseff and an opinion column by former President Lula. Now, with the opposition representative, journalists Carla Jiménez and Luis Prados also discuss the challenges facing the PSDB in winning over the PT electorate, the ambitions of their party colleague José Serra, and the economy.
Read here Here is the full text, and below are the main excerpts:
Feeling of change
There is a growing perception that our expectations for the future are not the same as they were in the past. There is a perception that the population expects more from the government, things that it does not deliver.
It's not easy, but when we have the opportunity to speak, in a debate, and show that the main achievements of the last ten years, such as controlling inflation and Brazil's credibility, are starting to be lost, that perception will reach people.
Opposition
When one of us, and I hope it will be the PSDB candidate, shows how we will combat inflation, how we will take care of education, how we will make public services work, how we will treat the private sector – as a partner and not as an adversary – there will naturally be a connection between the expectation of change and the candidate. But that will happen from the middle of next year onwards.
Family Bag
The Bolsa Família program is deeply rooted. But there's a difference between the PT (Workers' Party) and us. For them, Bolsa Família is the end goal. For us, it's the starting point. Brazil cannot live exclusively on this benefit. A father cannot want to leave his son a Bolsa Família card as an inheritance. The PT is content with the daily management of poverty. And we want to overcome poverty.
Serra candidacy
The unity of the PSDB is the main fuel we have to have electoral chances later on. We will get there. It is legitimate that our comrade Serra has his ambitions; he has a respectable political history. But the recent conversations we have had point in the direction of unity, because above any differences we may have, there is a common project, which is to end the PT cycle and begin another, ethical, efficient, and meritocratic one.
Unemployment and investors
I don't want Brazil to be a country with full employment and two minimum wages. I wonder: Why does the PT want another term? Since 2008, we should have created a stable environment to become more competitive. We scared investors away. The next four years will be very tough for Brazil, and that's precisely why we need a strong government.
Tucano Mensalão
Personally, I think the so-called "mensalão mineiro" (a political corruption scandal in Minas Gerais) should have been judged a long time ago. Especially since it's not a real "mensalão" at all, and the trial will demonstrate that. There was campaign financing involved. And if there was wrongdoing or a crime, those responsible must be punished exemplarily, period. I don't make premature judgments.
Poster
Regarding the São Paulo case, I have enormous respect for the ethical conduct of former governors Mário Covas, José Serra, and (current) Geraldo Alckmin. There is an accusation of a cartel, and if it is proven that any political agent is involved, they should be punished. And if there is someone linked to the PSDB, who hasn't come forward yet, they should also be punished. Unlike the PT's reaction in the Mensalão scandal, we will not consider it a political crime to misuse public funds.