Candidates' debate in Rio Grande do Sul focuses on security and financing.

By Luís Eduardo Gomes, in Sul 21 - The race for the election to the Piratini Palace has officially begun. On the first day that candidates were allowed to go out into the streets to ask for votes from the population, seven of the eight candidates for governor of the state met at... Gaucho Radio  For the first debate of this contest – Paulo Medeiros, from the PCO, did not participate. For about two hours, each candidate was able to present their visions and proposals for the future of Rio Grande do Sul, with the debate focusing essentially on issues of security, finance, and economic development of the state. However, according to the program's presentation, the listeners themselves complained about the lack of discussion of a plan for education.

The following candidates participated in the debate, in alphabetical order: Eduardo Leite (PSDB), Jairo Jorge (PDT), José Ivo Sartori (MDB), Julio Flores (PSTU), Mateus Bandeira (NOVO), Miguel Rossetto (PT), and Roberto Robaina (PSOL). The debate had four segments. In the first, the candidates introduced themselves for two minutes and answered questions prepared by the radio journalists and previously drawn at random. In the second, they could formulate questions for their opponents. In the third, they could speak on a topic of their choice, and journalist Rosane de Oliveira selected a question from those raised on social media. And, in the fourth and final segment, they had time for closing remarks.

About

First to speak, Roberto Robaina stated that Rio Grande do Sul lives under a false democracy dominated by economic power, oligarchies, and large economic groups that ensure the state is governed for the wealthiest. He argued that a new political system is needed where the rich are called upon to foot the bill. Following him, candidate Julio Flores called on voters to stage a socialist rebellion and a general strike to build a state where popular councils replace governments and spheres of power.

Later, Sartori said he wanted to return to being the same candidate he was in 2014, focusing on simplicity, honesty, and truth. Regarding his administration, he stated that difficult measures were taken to confront reality and reform the state, aiming for sustainability and promoting development. Following this, Mateus Bandeira presented himself as someone from outside politics seeking to break the "cycle of old politics," while acknowledging his participation in Yeda Crusius's (PSDB) government and promising fiscal austerity policies. Rossetto also spoke of his background as a petrochemical engineer, vice-governor (1999-2002), and minister in the Lula and Dilma governments, before stating that Rio Grande do Sul is a victim of the Temer and Sartori governments and advocating for an agenda to promote economic development and reorganize public services.

Closing the first segment, Eduardo Leite pointed out that, in the last municipal elections, Pelotas was the only one of the five largest cities in Rio Grande do Sul to maintain the same party in power, when his former vice-mayor, Paula Mascarenhas, was elected in the first round, and Jairo Jorge said that he will not make promises, but, if elected, he will bring the experiences he implemented as mayor of Canoas to govern Rio Grande do Sul.

Safety

Throughout the debate, the issue of security was the most discussed topic. Even when candidates were given the opportunity to choose any subject to discuss, they all opted for the same theme, albeit from varying points of view. On one hand, Bandeira advocated for stricter measures, more prisons, and an end to what he called "bandit worship" and the "victimization of criminals." On the other, Robaina and Flores pointed to the decriminalization of drugs as a solution to confronting criminal factions.

Sartori defended the security policies implemented by his government, but other candidates pointed out that Rio Grande do Sul currently has the smallest Military Police force in its history, with fewer than 16 officers. Jairo reiterated the idea that he will employ measures adopted in Canoas to advocate for the integration of police forces and investment in technology. Rossetto advocated for a focus on community policing and the creation of a battalion exclusively for patrolling schools and universities. Leite defended the implementation of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) for the prison system and a focus on social reintegration.

Finance and development

The issue of security intersected with finance when the topic turned to taxes and proposals for regional development. On the far left, Robaina and Flores defended the policy of "let the rich pay the bills," opposing tax exemptions and advocating for combating tax evasion. On the other hand, Bandeira, Leite, and Sartori fiercely defended the need for further cuts in state spending, adherence to the Fiscal Recovery Regime (RRF), and privatizations, with the difference that the governor was the only one to openly defend maintaining the ICMS (Value-Added Tax) rate at 18%, which was increased during his administration and, to remain in effect, needs to pass a new vote in the Legislative Assembly.

Jairo and Rossetto, throughout the debate, agreed on their criticism of the proposed adherence to the Fiscal Recovery Regime (RRF), characterizing it as a regime of "irresponsibility." For the Workers' Party member, the solution to the problems lies in a new negotiation of the debt and credits from the Kandir Law, as well as the resumption of a development agenda at the regional and national levels, which led him, on more than one occasion, to point to Lula's re-election as the way forward. The former mayor of Canoas, on the other hand, emphasized the need to streamline processes for opening new businesses, reducing the time required for environmental licensing, and, following the example of his administration in Canoas, adopting a "Trigger Law" at the state level, that is, reducing taxes annually as revenues increase.

Clashes

According to the debate rules, the candidates only had one opportunity to ask questions of each other. At that point, the general ideas presented in the other segments also prevailed, but one can observe a principle of the lines of "confrontation" that the candidates should adopt. Mateus Bandeira, for example, even having been part of the last PSDB government in the state, engaged in a confrontation with the PSDB candidate Eduardo Leite, ironically questioning the fact that Leite had committed to recreating the Sports Secretariat to attract the support of João Derly, from Rede. The PSDB candidate, in turn, then questioned Governor Sartori about the lack of an economic development agenda.

Rossetto, when given the opportunity, questioned Jairo Jorge about the RRF, a renegotiation agreement with the federal government that both had criticized. On the other hand, Roberto Robaina focused his attacks on the Workers' Party member, questioning why the "alignment of stars" between 2011 and 2014 did not result in more effective renegotiations of the debt and the Kandir Law, to which Rossetto replied that the Lula and Dilma governments were the ones that invested the most in Rio Grande do Sul.

In this segment, there was also the defense of completely opposing economic positions, when Julio Flores questioned Mateus Bandeira. There was also a question from Jairo to Flores about the issue of environmental licensing, which the PSTU candidate chose to answer by defending a general review of exemptions, combating tax evasion, and a public works policy to generate jobs. And, finally, a last question from Sartori to Robaina about deregulation, which the PSOL candidate used to talk about corruption and point out irregularities in the MDB of Rio Grande do Sul and in the federal government of Michel Temer (MDB).

The candidates will debate again this Thursday (16), in the first televised debate to be held by Bandeirantes TVstarting at 22 PM. Julio Flores (PSTU) will not participate in this debate, nor will the PCO candidate, Paulo Medeiros.