Bolsonaro has 'no respect' for the governors, says Fátima Bezerra.
The governor of Rio Grande do Norte also attributes the worsening of poverty, hunger, and inequality to the Bolsonaro government.
Brazil Current Network - The only female governor in the country, elected by the people of Rio Grande do Norte, Fátima Bezerra, a member of the Workers' Party (PT), states that the Bolsonaro government's relationship with the states is marked by "complete disrespect." "He has absolutely no regard for republican principles, from the point of view of federal relations," she told journalist Juca Kfouri on the program... Between Views last Thursday (17), in TVTAnd this treatment, according to her, is not limited to leaders in the Northeast, the region where the president is from. overwhelmingly disapproved"You can count on your fingers the number of governors he has even the slightest relationship with. So it's awful, a step backwards. It's like going back to the time of the Republic of the Colonels."
Fátima also attributes the worsening of poverty, hunger, and inequality in recent years to the Bolsonaro government. "All of this is a consequence of the current government. Not only because of the ultraliberal policies they adopt, but also because of the government's own initiatives to dismantle state structures," she said.
As an example, she points to the dismantling of the Unified Social Assistance System (SUAS). In the last three years, Bolsonaro cut by more than 70% The federal resources allocated to the agency. The governor compares the management model of the Unified Social Assistance System (SUAS) to how the federal pact should work, with coordination between the federal government, states, and municipalities, with social participation.
“But this government that is in power has no love for democracy. Much less for popular participation. It has dismantled all of that. Thus, the result of all this is the ever-increasing precariousness in the living conditions of families in situations of social vulnerability,” he criticized.
Northeast Consortium
Given this scenario, Fátima Bezerra cited the Northeast Consortium as an example of "resistance and collective cooperation." It is within this group, she explained, that the... governors of the region They seek solutions and alternatives to the most relevant issues in the region. Within the consortium, the governor of Rio Grande do Norte is responsible for coordinating the thematic chambers of Family Farming and Social Assistance.
"Without a doubt, this initiative by the governors, this coordination that we have been doing, has been very important. To the extent that the Northeast unites, looking at many, many of the challenges and problems that are common," he stated.
Education
Fátima also assured Juca Kfouri that she will fulfill her commitments. National Minimum Wage for Teachers in 2022. State school teachers went on strike last Monday (14), demanding a 33,24% readjustment, in accordance with the floor. She said she respects the category's struggle, and hailed the National Floor as one of the “great advances” achieved in the PT governments.
However, she also said that Rio Grande do Norte faces budgetary constraints and, for that reason, presented a proposal to stagger the readjustment. She recalled that she began her term in 2019 "with the coffers empty." At that time, civil servants were four months behind on their salaries, totaling approximately R$ 1 billion. Even so, she stated, it was possible to "get the house in order," guaranteeing dignity for the employees.
Women in politics
Regarding the status of women and political participation, Fátima Bezerra said that "it's not normal" to be the only woman governing a state in Brazil today. She highlighted that the underrepresentation of women is also a recurring issue. in the Legislature and in the Judiciary. She attributes this discrepancy to "patriarchal culture" and "structural sexism," which impose obstacles on women.
“It’s not easy at all to live in this world, in its various spheres. In the public sector, in private life, it’s not easy. Precisely because of the violent burden of prejudice that we face,” the governor stated. In this sense, she said she also faces other forms of prejudice.
“With me, for example, prejudice begins with the issue of gender, of being a woman. Then comes prejudice based on sexual orientation, and class prejudice. After all, I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth. I come from a simple, humble, poor family. So it's a very, very heavy burden of prejudice.”
On the other hand, she said that, in order to exercise power, women have "a more heightened sensitivity, associated at the same time with a lot of determination and courage." "We have already overcome many barriers, without a doubt. If you look at it from the point of view of the right to education, the right to the job market, etc. But we have a very long road ahead," she concluded.