Sader to 247: Lula was right and the media was wrong.
Sociologist Emir Sader, who is launching his book "10 Years of Post-Neoliberal Governments in Brazil" this Monday in São Paulo, says in an exclusive interview with 247 that this is a "good moment" to take stock of Lula's administration, which he considers "a government that worked," but which the press treated in a "mistaken" way. According to Sader, the trial of the so-called "mensalão" scandal was not the biggest corruption case in the country, as the media claims, but rather the privatizations under Fernando Henrique Cardoso (FHC). "Clearly it's manipulation," he states.
Gisele Federicce _247 – At a “good time” to evaluate the administration of former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and the first two years of President Dilma Rousseff, sociologist Emir Sader states that this “is a government that worked.” Investments in social policies – the biggest problem in Brazil, in his view – show the results: “It is a process that has transformed Brazil so much and will probably continue to transform it.”
In an exclusive interview given to 247 This Sunday, Sader talks about the book "10 Years of Post-Neoliberal Governments in Brazil" - which he organized and will be launched this Monday the 13th - and gives his opinion on the upcoming elections, the press's treatment of the Workers' Party administration, and the trial of the so-called 'mensalão' scandal, a media "manipulation," in his view, that ended up undermining the credibility of the Supreme Federal Court, responsible for promoting a "media spectacle."
The first launch event The event will take place in São Paulo, with online streaming, and will feature Lula, Emir Sader, philosopher Marilena Chaui, and economist Marcio Pochmann. The latter two have published texts in the collection of analyses about the period, which also includes a previously unpublished interview with the former president. The book is being sold It costs R$20, but a free electronic version will be available until the end of the month starting this Monday.
Read here part of Lula's previously unpublished interview, published a week ago by 247:
Lula says the media never profited as much as it did during the Lula era.
Below are the main excerpts from the conversation with Emir Sader:
How were the texts included in the book selected?
This is a good time to take stock of Lula's government, and to reflect on governments that were successful. It's a process that has transformed Brazil so much and will likely continue to do so, therefore it requires reflection on the transformations that were made, why they were made, and why they weren't made. The authors of the texts are people who identify with this process, some with more reflective viewpoints, others more critical.
In what way is this previously unreleased interview with former President Lula most revealing? What is most surprising?
He is now articulating a more global vision regarding the government. There's nothing particularly groundbreaking, although there are some very important aspects to it. In general, he's discussing the transformation of what has been done.
What is your assessment of these last ten years of government?
It's a government that has been successful, that has positioned itself as a central theme, prioritized social policies, and is always adapting. Brazil has always been known as the most equal country on the most unequal continent.
In one part of the interview, Lula says that the best thing to do at a certain point in his government was to stop reading newspapers and watching television. Do you consider that to have been a radical decision by the former president?
No, it wasn't important at the time. There are people who end up being influenced by the media, who end up governing based on the media. If they were representatives of the majority, that would be understandable, but they are representatives of the minority. It's a private lobby.
What is your opinion on the way the press treated Lula's government? And now, Dilma's government?
It's a flawed approach. Initially, they misjudged the policies that Lula had implemented. Later, they ended up having to accept them.
Is President Dilma a worthy successor to Lula?
As a popular leader, it's difficult, because Lula is only comparable to Getúlio [Vargas]. Now, as a statesman, a ruler, yes.
What is your view on the allegations in the so-called 'mensalão' scandal and the trial at the Supreme Federal Court?
Whatever the concrete facts may have been, they were exaggerated. The biggest corruption case in Brazil wasn't this one, it was the privatizations during Fernando Henrique Cardoso's government. Clearly, it's manipulation. If it weren't for that, there wouldn't have been this media spectacle that the Supreme Federal Court promoted. And that ended up weakening it. The STF chose an electoral calendar, an absurd thing, which ended up destroying its credibility.
What would the inclusion of the former president in the indictment mean, in your view?
It's all media manipulation. I make some baseless accusation, it reaches the media and gains traction. What credibility does [businessman] Marcos Valério have to talk about accusations that he himself is being convicted of?
What are the expectations for 2014?
I think Dilma has excellent chances of being re-elected. She needs to tackle structural problems that haven't been resolved yet. She has to strengthen food self-sufficiency, small and medium-sized businesses in rural areas, democratize the media, and, as a fourth point, I would highlight the democratization of the electoral process. The path will have to be the same one that the PT supports, with a final referendum with the population, not just with those who were elected.