Wellington Dias: Bolsonaro is betting on social collapse and the breakdown of national unity.

PT Agency - "The (federal) government wants chaos," warned the governor of Piauí. Wellington Dias, at the meeting of National Directorate of the PT (Workers' Party), held on the morning of this Thursday (9). According to the PT member, by delaying measures to support the population and abandoning states and municipalities, President Jair Bolsonaro He is clearly acting to produce social upheaval in the country.

"Shutting down states and municipalities, delaying social funding, failing to implement measures to save jobs, neglecting micro and small businesses, and even medium and large companies, are creating chaos," denounced the governor. He demanded support from parties in Congress for the approval of an aid package for states and municipalities.

Other members of the Workers' Party who joined the chorus in favor of the aid were the governors of Bahia, Rui Costa, and from Rio Grande do Norte, Fatima BezerraEveryone warned of the worsening social and economic situation in light of... pandemic and the lack of responsibility of federal government, who promises to help, but drags his feet when it comes to getting the measurements done on paper.

Wellington Dias He declared that the Federation is at risk because states and municipalities were already in a difficult financial and social situation even before the "collapse of coronavirusHe warned that the situation is dramatic and that governments and municipalities will run out of resources, not only for the area of health...but also for operating expenses, investments, and salary payments.

transfer of responsibility

On Thursday night (8), Bolsonaro once again addressed the Nation and ignored once more the seriousness of the epidemic, resuming his attack on the federal pact. Abandoning his presidential function of defending national unity, Bolsonaro tried to transfer the social and, above all, economic consequences of social isolation to governors and mayors.

“Many measures, whether restrictive or not, are the sole responsibility of those same individuals. The federal government was not consulted about their scope or duration,” declared Bolsonaro, absolving himself of responsibility. In his provocative style, the president mocked the efforts of mayors and governors to maintain the confinement of the population.

The recommendation to maintain social isolation comes from the government itself. Ministry of HealthRepresentative entities of the municipalities criticized the position of the Presidential Palace. "These statements, besides being regrettable because they attempt to exempt the president from his duties as head of state, an authority whose duty it is to safeguard the harmony of the federation, are also untrue," stated the National Front of Mayors in a note.

Meager federal investments

At the meeting of the National Directorate of PTWellington Dias recalled that the state of Piaui So far, the state has invested R$ 156 million, while the federal government has allocated only R$ 6,4 million. "The municipalities received R$ 2 per inhabitant for 90 days to combat the pandemic," he denounced.

The deliberate absence of the Federal Executive, warns the governor, is becoming a torment for state governments in the face of the imminent fall in economic activity, reflected in the Gross Domestic Product (GPD), and tax revenues. States and municipalities are being driven to financial collapse.

"The collapse of states and municipalities is anticipating the collapse caused by the coronavirus, which they are trying to avoid," he warned. Facing difficulties, state and municipal administrations risk lacking the necessary resources to care for the people.

Wellington Dias defended the actions of the other branches of government, citing the minister's decision. Alexandre de Moraes which allowed the rollover of the State's debts of São Paulo Alongside the Union. "The other branches of government need to have courage," he warned. He said there is still time to prevent the country from being pushed towards definitive disaster.

Underreporting of Covid-19 cases

The governor declared that Covid-19 cases are clearly underreported in the country. He predicts an explosion in the number of infected people in the coming days. "It's false that there are 15 [infected] people," he said, criticizing the lack of testing to detect the virus. "We are working in the dark, blindly," he complained.

Still at the National Directorate meeting, Rui Costa He was another who pressured Congress to approve the aid package. He pointed out that the relief Supporting governors and mayors is insufficient, but we can't just stand idly by. "This proposal is better than nothing. We recommend that our representatives help with today's vote," he said.

Costa also predicts the collapse of state and municipal governments. He stated that, in Bahia, the drop in the issuance of tax invoices was 40%. "State revenue is tied to the issuance of..." notes"It won't fall by that 40% because it's not a direct correlation, but there will be a significant drop in revenue," he predicts.

Financial tragedy in the Northeast

Fatima Bezerra She emphasized that, in Rio Grande do Norte, the drop in revenue will be "brutal." She said that the financial situation was aggravated by the growth in expenses, operating costs, and investments, especially in the health sector. She complained that the federal government is releasing funds "at a snail's pace."

"It's a disaster, a tragedy. The states are asking for help for an objective reason. They don't have..." budget"They have no money given the brutal drop in ICMS (a Brazilian sales tax) that has already been observed. We are on the verge of a financial tragedy," he emphasized.

Fátima also reported the underreporting of Covid-19 cases and advocated for strengthening social isolation measures. In Rio Grande do Norte, she said, most mayors are still not following social distancing guidelines.