'Marina is intolerant of the trappings of delicacy'

Realle Palazzo-Martini _Goiás247 - The leader of the Democrats in the Chamber of Deputies, Ronaldo Caiado (GO), responded through a statement to the attacks perpetrated against him by former senator Marina Silva, who in an interview with the newspaper O Globo accused the ruralist of being a "historical enemy" of rural workers (here"It is worrying that someone running for President of the Republic is intolerant and hostile precisely to the most productive sector of the economy, responsible for 23% of GDP and more than a third of the country's formal jobs," said Caiado, suggesting that the criticism directed at him reflects the "prejudice" of the leader of the Sustainability Network against Brazilian rural producers.

Marina's complaints regarding Caiado had the surgical objective of making the attempted alliance between DEM and PSB in Goiás unfeasible—negotiations for which were already at an advanced stage—and dissociating her project from the history of the Goiás ruralist after Rede declared itself united with PSB in the 2014 presidential project. It worked. On CBN radio, Governor Eduardo Campos, president of PSB and a likely candidate to succeed President Dilma Rousseff, backed Marina, stating that "there is no alliance with Ronaldo Caiado within this PSB and Rede group."

Campos' statement is slippery. Not only were there advanced talks to form an alliance between the PSB and the DEM in Goiás, but Caiado was also presenting himself as the name to head the ticket for the Goiás state government. The ruralist even went so far as to defend the Democrats' support for Campos, to the detriment of Aécio Neves and the PSDB.

Caiado, however, did not directly attack the president of the PSB. But he mocked Campos's retreat by saying that he (Caiado) was one of the first politicians in the country to defend the candidacy of the Pernambuco governor "because he understood that he could have a new stance in Brazilian politics, democratic, firm and courageous." And he continued: "It was because I believed in plurality that I had associated myself with the political project of Governor Eduardo Campos, whose discourse rejected radicalism."

The Democrat, surprisingly, toned down his aggressive style in the statement. A harsher reaction had been expected throughout the day. Senator Kátia Abreu gave a speech and released a statement defending Caiado (hereA bombshell speech was even announced from the Chamber's podium. However, Caiado's characteristic style didn't materialize. The response was limited to a statement where Caiado asserts that Marina is mistaken in seeing the rural producer, "the country's largest employer," as an enemy of the worker. "It's a colossal contradiction. In my state, Goiás, agribusiness employs no less than half of the active workforce and accounts for 67% of the GDP."

Caiado mocked the supposed fragility of the former Minister of the Environment, whom he described as intolerant, but who presents herself with an air of delicacy. "The candidate is right on one point: we, she and I, are consistent. But – and this is our difference – I am not intolerant. I don't confuse adversary with enemy."

Below, the full note:

Official Note

Candidate Marina Silva's veto is not against me personally, but against what I represent in three decades of public life: the agricultural sector and freedom of enterprise.

It is concerning that someone running for President of the Republic would be intolerant and hostile precisely to the most productive sector of the economy, responsible for 23% of GDP and more than a third of the country's formal jobs.

I regret that someone with such pretensions demonstrates such a lack of understanding of the reality of Brazilian agriculture and sees the rural producer – the country's largest employer – as an enemy of the worker. It's a colossal contradiction. In my state, Goiás, agribusiness employs no less than half of the active workforce and accounts for 67% of the GDP.

The candidate is right on one point: she and I are consistent. But – and this is our difference – I am not intolerant. I don't confuse adversary with enemy. Democracy is not a scorched-earth policy, nor does it thrive in an environment of conflict. I was – and am – an assertive politician. I have never hidden my ideas. But I have always lived in a democratic and civilized environment, knowing how to deal with opposing views. Vehemence is not intolerance. Often, quite the opposite, intolerance presents itself in the guise of delicacy.

I was one of the first politicians in the country to defend Governor Eduardo Campos' candidacy, believing he could bring a fresh, democratic, firm, and courageous approach to Brazilian politics.

It was out of belief in pluralism that I had associated myself with the political project of Governor Eduardo Campos, whose discourse rejected radicalism. And it was in the name of pluralism and dialogue that I welcomed the candidate, who now shows me the face of intolerance. This idea of ​​a "historical enemy" is old, retrograde, and prejudiced, and does not serve the interests of the country. I will continue to defend, in the National Congress, the interests of Brazil and agribusiness, debating and presenting proposals that harmonize the country's development, making it compatible with the preservation of the environment.

Fallen Ronaldo

Leader of the Democrats in the House of Representatives

Brasilia, October 9, 2013