Crisis does not justify social setbacks, says new head of the Rio de Janeiro Public Prosecutor's Office.
Rio de Janeiro's new Attorney General, Eduardo Gussem, argued that the Public Prosecutor's Office should more closely monitor budget execution; "The financial crisis cannot serve as justification for setbacks in social issues and citizenship," he stated; in December, the Rio de Janeiro State Legislative Assembly (Alerj) rejected the proposal to extinguish the social programs Renda Melhor and Renda Melhor Jovem as part of the fiscal austerity measures of Governor Luiz Fernando Pezão; the state was the first to declare a state of financial emergency due to the crisis.
The new Attorney General of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Gussem, took office this Monday (16) at the headquarters of the Public Ministry of the State of Rio de Janeiro (MPRJ). In his speech, Gussem argued that the Public Ministry should monitor the budget execution more closely.
"Strengthening transparency makes every citizen a partner of the Public Prosecutor's Office in the task of oversight," said the new Attorney General, who affirmed that transparency will be pursued exhaustively. "The financial crisis cannot serve as justification for setbacks in social issues and citizenship."
The prosecutor explained that the control he intends to propose will take place even before the end of the fiscal year, to prevent situations in which expenses greatly exceed revenue.
Gussem will have a two-year term and replaces Marfan Martins Vieira, who is leaving office after two consecutive terms.
Overcrowding in prisons
In his speech, the new head of the MPRJ (Rio de Janeiro State Public Prosecutor's Office) drew attention to the need to find a solution to prison overcrowding in the state. "We cannot forget that every human being deprived of their liberty cannot also be deprived of their dignity."
Among the measures Gussem advocated for are ensuring that people who have already served their sentences are not kept in prison. He also said that a commitment is needed to expand the number of spaces in the prison system.
The new state attorney general of Rio de Janeiro was appointed by decree of the governor, Luiz Fernando Pezão, published in... Official Gazette of the State of Rio de Janeiro on January 3rd. He was elected in a vote by members of the Public Prosecutor's Office on December 12, 2016. The vote was the first to use electronic voting.