Fernando Haddad on TV 247: In terms of content, I am to the left of the PT.
In an interview with TV 247, former mayor Fernando Haddad, who received 47 million votes in the last presidential election, spoke about his role in democratic resistance, the fight against obscurantism, and the defense of a central agenda: the freedom of former president Lula. In one of the most interesting points, he outlined his ideological position and his form of political action. "I am to the left of the PT in content and to the right in form. And it is necessary to combine form and content. We can have bolder ideas, but we need to know how to address them," he stated; see the full interview.
TV 247 - Owner of a legacy of 47 million votes obtained in the last presidential election, former mayor Fernando Haddad gave a lengthy interview to TV 247 last Tuesday, the 12th, when he assessed his performance in the race and pointed out paths for the progressive field in the future. One of his most interesting formulations occurred when he was asked if he was someone "from the right wing of the PT" (Workers' Party). Haddad stated that he was to the left of the party in terms of content, and to the right in terms of form. This means defending bolder ideas – from the point of view of wealth distribution, for example – without embracing a mode of political action that takes place outside the institutional field. "I am to the left of the PT in content and to the right in form. And it is necessary to combine form and content. We can have bolder ideas, but we need to know how to address them," he stated. To explain his position, Haddad drew a parallel with the new left-wing forces in the Democratic Party in the United States. "They have defended much more advanced proposals, such as universal healthcare, universal education, and the taxation of large fortunes. At the same time, in form, all these ideas have been presented in a more inviting way," he said, at a time when there is talk of a dawn of socialism in the United States and England.
In the interview, given to Gisele Federicce, Paulo Moreira Leite, and Leonardo Attuch, Haddad spoke about controversial topics such as the Venezuelan issue and the United States' intervention in South America. According to Haddad, his criticism of the party's position – whose president, Gleisi Hoffmann, attended Nicolás Maduro's inauguration – relates to form, not content. "The PT has always defended the self-determination of peoples, but has also always fought against left-wing authoritarianism," he says. Haddad states that if he had won the elections, the relationship between Brazil and the United States would be completely different. "Today it's a relationship of tutelage and intimidation, of total subservience," he says. "If we had won, Brazil would be respected," he affirms. Regarding Venezuela, he advocates a peaceful solution. "The solution to the crisis needs to be negotiated. There haven't been armed conflicts with neighboring countries for over a century, and this stance needs to be preserved," he assesses.
In his assessment of the presidential elections, Haddad states that the lack of support from Ciro Gomes, which did not materialize in the second round, was a significant loss. "It would have helped create a better environment for the formation of a broader front," he states. "I don't know if it would have been enough to win, but certainly for a more heated contest, which would have strengthened the opposition as a whole." Haddad argues that the left should set an example of dialogue and understanding and that "Personal projects should be put aside" to rebuild the center-left field. "We need to be more generous among ourselves," he argues.
Lula Book
A professor at Insper, one of the most prestigious universities in São Paulo, Haddad also began a series of trips around Brazil this week to defend the freedom of former president Lula and point out the setbacks of Jair Bolsonaro's government. When questioned about the legal abuses that sentenced Lula, Haddad, who is also the former president's lawyer, is emphatic in saying that there is nothing in the process that convicted him, including in the Atibaia farm case, that links him to any illicit practices. "There wasn't even an insinuation. What act did Lula commit that went against the interests of the population? You can't convict him of corruption in this way," he states. "Besides that, everyone recognizes that the case has no relation to Petrobras and shouldn't even be being discussed by the Lava Jato operation in Paraná."
On these trips, which Haddad preferred not to classify as "caravans," a personal trademark of Lula, he stated that he wants To discuss, in different regions of the country, the articulation of resistance in times of rising far-right movements. "Let's discuss the dismantling of Brazil under the current government, and I can contribute to this debate," he states. Haddad asserts that there is no possibility of success for a government that chooses "artists, scientists, and professors" as its enemies. One of the targets of his criticism is Minister Ricardo Vélez Rodriguez, who went so far as to describe Brazilians as thieves and cannibals. "We are bringing into the school what already happens outside of it, which is obscurantism," he says.
Haddad asserts, however, that the outrageous things being said by ministers like Vélez Rodriguez and Damares Alves serve a functional purpose. In Brazil, Neoliberalism needs a "spiritual complement to survive." "The government needs to promote a culture war to sustain the dismantling agenda. "It's as if they were saying to the people: you will be poor but your son will not be gay," he exemplifies. "This agenda of fake news and manipulation is perverse. I was accused of raping an 11-year-old girl on election day. My wife was shocked, it was horrible," recalls Haddad, denouncing the lies spread during the election period that were fundamental in electing Bolsonaro.
If it weren't for the fake news spread by Bolsonaro supporters, Haddad would be president today. Check out his interview with TV 247 below. subscribe to the channel: