Aguimar: there is no room for classist parliamentarians in the Senate.

Carolina Pessoni - from the portal The essay

In the third interview with candidates for a Senate seat in Goiás, the newspaper A Redação interviewed Aguimar Jesuíno (PSB), from the Popular Participation Coalition (PSB/PSC/PRP). Aguimar spoke about his proposals for his work in the Senate and his expectations regarding Marina Silva's rise to the presidential candidacy. "I believe she has the potential to win the elections, as we have seen in the polls already released."

Here are the main points addressed by the candidate:

Public security

"In Goiás and in Brazil, security is an extremely serious issue, and this seriousness is generated by several factors. The first is the social issue, because we have little cultural and educational background, and the second is the lack of management of public security in the country. The federal government neglects public security because constitutionally this is a duty of the states, but 70% of tax revenues are concentrated in the hands of the Union, so it is practically impossible to solve this problem."

"We still have the issue of drugs and arms trafficking, but that's not the fault of the states, but rather of the federal government, which fails to monitor the borders. At the state level, we see that Goiás manages its public security very poorly. We have three police forces (Military, Civil, and Forensic) that are demotivated, with low salaries, misuse of their roles, and little investment in technology."

"Today we have to use these digital tools in service of the police. We could monitor the main crime hotspots, but we would need a strong intelligence service, which we don't have. There is a total disregard for public safety in Goiás and, as a consequence, we have risen in the violence ranking. Today, walking the streets of Goiânia is more dangerous than in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo."

"I support Constitutional Amendment Proposal 51, which proposes the demilitarization of the Military Police and the merging of the police forces under a single command. Furthermore, we need to use technology to reduce the alarming crime rate."

"We also need to change the legislation, increasing the maximum detention time for juvenile offenders from three to ten years, instead of lowering the age of criminal responsibility. Another proposal is that criminals who use child labor to commit crimes lose their privileges and also receive an increase in their sentence of at least one-third."

"We need to simplify our criminal procedure legislation so that cases can proceed more quickly through the judicial system. I think prisoners need to be held in different ways according to their crime, so that we have the conditions to rehabilitate them. We don't have the infrastructure for that in Brazil, and the federal government cannot continue to be negligent."

Juventude

"If we have effective full-time schools, with quality technical, scientific, and philosophical education, we won't have this window where the child is left unattended. I also advocate for a unified school curriculum in Brazil, a unified career path for teachers, so that citizens in the interior have the same quality of education as students in the capital cities."

"Furthermore, we need a cultural policy, with investments in theater, music, and sports. All of this contributes effectively to preventing young people from turning to crime. It's a series of public policies that must be implemented so that in 20 or 30 years we can achieve the same leap in quality that developed countries have attained. An educated people is not a violent people."

Performance in the Senate

"I have 30 years of experience as a lawyer, 20 of them as a public attorney. This experience will contribute decisively to my work in the Senate. I have worked in tax law, and I know that the country needs an effective tax reform, using technological and digital tools to act in collection and oversight, simplifying the number of taxes. This does not mean that it will decrease revenue, but it will contribute to reducing tax evasion."

"I also worked in labor law, so I believe our CLT (Consolidation of Labor Laws) needs reform to simplify the legislation without affecting workers' rights, so that the cost for companies is reduced. My experience in law could qualify me for the debate on criminal law, trying to make the process faster." 

"I also want to discuss the new Federal Pact in Brazil. Tax collection is concentrated in the hands of the Union, and when states and municipalities need resources, they go to Brasília, ending up submitting to an exchange of favors. I think this is unacceptable in a country like Brazil. Municipalities and states should have more resources and be less dependent on the federal government. The Senate is the place to create a counterpoint, so that the poorer states can organize themselves."

"My position is to defend the interests of the people and the State of Goiás, to stand with the citizen. In the Chamber of Deputies, there is room for class-based representatives, but not in the Senate. We don't need a senator who defends the interests of doctors or landowners, but rather someone who defends health. Our politicians want to discuss positions and favors; they don't think about these big issues, which is why they don't stand out."

"To change this scenario, we need a broad political reform. I support the political reform proposed by the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB), which proposes two-round elections: in the first round, voters choose parties and programs, and in the second, they vote for candidates. This strengthens parties and democracy, allowing for the discussion of ideas and programs in the first round, which is not done today. It also involves vertical coalitions, making it mandatory for candidates to participate in debates under penalty of disqualification, and implementing public campaign financing to prevent large corporations from appropriating government positions. This is much cheaper for the country than allowing this problem of political and electoral corruption to persist. It is one of the instruments to curb corruption."

Research

"The strategy is to work with a fresh face. My three main competitors hold office, some for many terms, and have witnessed or been complicit in the worsening of areas such as health and public safety in the state. They look after partisan interests, not the population. My role is to discuss principles, ideas, and actions from various perspectives to do work for the benefit of the state, regardless of which governor is elected."

"My name is unknown to the general population; I'm known in the legal field, and I've never run for office. I'm someone who, appalled by everything that's happening between the population and politicians, entered politics to do things differently. A survey showed that 70% of people wanted new faces in politics, and I offered myself."

"I am a candidate to be a spokesperson for these discontented people, to come to the debate to discuss ideas and principles in as much detail as possible. These old politicians that I am fighting against are running for office and to make deals. And in this marketplace of deals, the people are left outside."

Urban mobility

"I think this is another point where the Union is failing in Brazil. The Union grants tax exemptions to the automotive industry but does not provide tax or fiscal incentives for public transportation. It's a reversal of values."

"The most developed countries prioritize public transportation over private transportation. All world capitals that have improved public transportation subsidize quality public transportation. By taking cars off the road, the country is saving money. It's a matter of choice, and the automotive industry sector has a lot of influence on Brazilian politics today."

"I would propose a zero-fare public transportation system, subsidized by the federal government, for students and beneficiaries of government social programs throughout the country, creating a strategic plan in Brazil to have quality transportation with zero or near-zero fares for the entire population. The federal government is failing to engage in this debate. This keeps the city cleaner and promotes sustainable development."

Marina Silva

"I am running for senator at Marina's suggestion, with Eduardo Campos's endorsement. Marina is one of the few politicians in Brazil who can engage in dialogue with sectors that are dissatisfied with everyone else. With Marina's rise to candidacy, we have already seen a shift in votes from null votes, blank votes, and abstentions towards Marina, because she connects with this audience."

"I believe she has the potential to win the elections, as we've seen in the polls already released. The premature death of Eduardo Campos completely changed this political landscape. I think there could be a migration of votes from the two main candidates to Marina starting with the debates, because she doesn't have to account for past misdeeds; she can engage in political discussion, presenting a new perspective, incorporating the best aspects of the two parties that have governed the country, but also promoting a change of power. Being in power for too long corrupts people."

"I advocate for the alternation of power, the end of reelection, and five-year terms for all positions, including the Senate. We need to reform the Brazilian state; we won't do it with these old ways of thinking and old policies."

Social Networks and the Internet

"I think the internet is one of the most formidable things; it's a tool that enhances democracy. It allows us to listen to the population through this medium, to conduct quick consultations on various national issues. We need to create mechanisms in Brazil so that popular initiative bills can gather signatures online."

"I see the possibility of online elections in the future, completely digital and secure. People will be able to vote without interference from campaign workers, without having to deal with traffic. These are technologies that humanity is developing to build democracy more effectively and in a very agile way. I advocate for a digital democracy, that we move in that direction. I'm not proposing the end of Congress or a representative democracy, but it would be another means of popular participation."

"I think that in these elections, the internet and social media will play an important role. The internet and social media are used for communication, but there are still limitations in terms of access for everyone. I believe that television is still decisive, but it is undoubtedly a very effective tool, and I believe it will play a crucial role because there is this migration of the public to new media. I believe that in the future it will take the place of television."