Let's be vigilant: they intend to privatize Petrobras.

The rotten agenda of these infamous individuals is supposedly to "destroy" the Workers' Party's management of Petrobras. Supposedly, I emphasize. But that's not exactly it. Several columnists in the mainstream press are echoing this ripple, trying, in unison, to transform it into a wave on TV and in major newspapers. But make no mistake, it's not exactly the Workers' Party's management, and its alleged mistakes, at the helm of this prestigious company that they are targeting. Nor do they, as "zealous" journalists that they should be, intend to offer an unbiased and constructive critique of this management. Not at all. What they truly want, at the heart of their interests, is to hit the bullseye: they intend to privatize Petrobras.

In fact, we've seen this movie before. The problem is that we are far too distracted and forgetful – as I've said here repeatedly. The so-called liberals and supposed social democrats, the vanguard of backwardness in our political landscape, are already rushing to deconstruct, through their ventriloquist dummies in the mainstream media, the greatest asset of any company: its credibility and respectability. And they do it little by little, meticulously, through this kind of "anti-propaganda" aimed at their shareholders and clients, in particular, and Brazilians in general.

"He who disdains wants to buy" – popular wisdom teaches us. This same tactic has already been used with several public companies, only to later dismantle them and sell them off for a pittance. They tried it once – who doesn't remember the Petrobras debacle? How forgetful we are! They've already hinted at the "need" to privatize the Post Office, the Bank of Brazil, and so the band plays its strident and persistent refrain.

But the jewel in the crown is indeed Petrobras, this true asset of Brazilians, a source of pride for its employees and for all of us. A company possessing invaluable expertise, recognized and respected internationally, and present in numerous countries today. A company that sponsors diverse and valuable social projects that would never be supported by private capital. Petrobras is indispensable.

Yes, they intend to hand over Petrobras in their privatization frenzy. They, who have already bequeathed us their cursed legacy, the disgrace and despair of the FHC era, will not lead us to ruin again.

Next, they will surely privatize the public banks: Banco do Brasil and Caixa Econômica. Make no mistake, this is the unspoken desire of Brazilian bankers – the few who remain, as most have already gone bankrupt, accustomed as they were to the favors and benefits of successive "liberal" governments. Yes, what bothers these people most now is witnessing the unexpected prominence of public banks; the same prominence that favored credit for small businesses and low-income consumers, saving the country from recent crises.

I repeat: don't be fooled. For them, this "consumerism" of the "infamous" Class C is "a horror"! – as our PHA would say, in his typically Carioca sarcasm. These poorly dressed and ill-mannered people crowding the malls and airports are unbearable! How I miss the usual protagonists, the well-groomed middle class of Leblon (in Rio de Janeiro), Higienópolis (in São Paulo), and Lourdes (in Belo Horizonte)!

Don't be fooled, I warn you once again: when they speak ill of Petrobras, they are in truth speaking ill of an asset, a patrimony of all Brazilians. Many of us own shares in this company. Some of us bought these shares with the sweat of our FGTS (Brazilian severance pay fund). But we are all its shareholders – in fact or "symbolically". Petrobras is us. We will not allow them to "cheat" us again on this wealth of the Brazilian people. Absolutely not! And don't even bother trying to pull that trick again.
The privatizers are coming. The privatizers are coming. With their usual "novelty" and deceitful speeches. But these, we know, are the ones who turn gold into excrement; fortune into misery; prosperity into decay.

They will pass with their ominous song, like days of misfortune. They will no longer dictate the destiny and fate of our people. They will simply pass.

I am incredibly proud of Petrobras.