Political reform begins with primaries.
The party member is the true master of decisions. Without them, the party dwindles. Without them, the corollary of the party's intentions cools down.
The PSDB possesses an indisputable legacy of ideals. The PSDB has the attributes to set an example. Before, there was an uncomfortable silence in the governance of the party's internal relations. Uncomfortable and unconsented. The phenomenon that proliferated among all of us was simply waiting. Today, we can already shout that we are masters of our destiny. Or we can build it.
On July 4th of this year, I officially registered with the PSDB's municipal board my intention to compete in the party's primaries, which will choose the candidate for mayor of São Paulo. My ambition is based on valuing the members, to whom we owe both respect and transparency. Now, it seems, the primaries have raised a red flag for those in the offices.
It's necessary to gauge the pulse of the PSDB's leadership. In the letter I sent to party members when I registered, determined to participate in the process, I stated that "primaries are a recipe for harmonious coexistence without blemishes."
I had over 200 signatures of support.
Is there anything to contest? Is there anything to circumvent? Is there anything to wait for? Is it comfortable to receive a name imposed from above? So many of us, and yet we lack autonomy? So much have we done, and we have to lower our heads? So much do we need to do, and we will continue to wait for commands?
Aren't we the rightful owners of the PSDB? All of us? Or just some of us? The primaries change all our perspectives.
Consistent reflection leads us to two conclusions: one concerns the importance of São Paulo, and the other confirms that we must have boldness and a critical vision to meet the challenge of continuing to improve the city.
The other, a glaring demonstration of the obvious, tells us that we cannot lose the vigor sown by the leaders who were at the founding of the PSDB.
Both reflections lead to the open field of primaries. The game of political maneuvering within the PSDB is accompanied by euphemisms. For the choice of our candidate for mayor of São Paulo in 2012, there are no half-measures.
There are no impermeable words. The word is: preliminary.
It is inherent to the political landscape that diverse viewpoints meet, that opposing discourses clash. However, the use of subterfuge that disregards activism is neither appropriate nor should it be permanent. The foundation lies in party consciousness.
A true leader is not one who commands because they can. It's one who guides because they have the trust of their people. The issue of primaries within the PSDB is an inspiration. I have defended primaries as an argument originating from democracy, and that's the end of it.
The party member is the true master of decisions. Without them, the party withers. Without them, the corollary of the party's intentions cools. The primaries, which I so strongly advocate for, are the purest and most compelling demonstration that party members are respected in their entirety.
Therefore, PSDB, primaries are urgently needed. No distorted words.
Ricardo Tripoli is a lawyer, environmentalist, federal deputy, and pre-candidate for mayor of São Paulo for the PSDB party.