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Street protests have defined Brazil’s government priorities in 2013
Criado em 31/12/13 15h15
e atualizado em 31/12/13 15h17
Por Karine Melo, Paulo Victor Chagas and Marcelo Brandão
Fonte:Agência Brasil
Brasília – Improving public services in education, healthcare, and security; clamping down on corruption, and coming down on prejudice against minorities – these were some of the grievances voiced in the protests that swept across the streets throughout Brazil this year, complete with sit-ins in front of the National Congress.
Overtaken by the extent of the protests throughout the country, the federal government announced a national pact covering five areas – fiscal responsibility, political reform, healthcare, education, and urban mobility .
At various points, the Confederations Cup itself was overshadowed. The claims for greater budgets to support quality public services made the headlines and was reflected in the political agenda. On June 17, President Dilma Rousseff gave a public address to compliment the people’s initiative and rebuke the use of violence: “The protesters have the right and freedom to question and criticize anything. (...) To passionately share their ideas and proposals. But they must do so in a peaceful and orderly manner. Government and society won’t tolerate that a violent and extreme minority destroy public and private property.”
The president then met with the governors of the 27 states and the capital city mayors to announce the five areas of the national pact.
The Senate approved steps to save the public coffers $128 million in 2014, as well as projects to address the people’s demands, including turning corruption into a felony; extending the “Ficha Limpa” (“Clean Record”) requirement to all candidates for public office; non-secret ballot in proceedings for mandate forfeiture for convicted congressmen, or in sessions to approve presidential vetoes; committing proceeds from petroleum royalties to education and health; and the More Doctors Program, designed to hire Brazilian and foreign healthcare practitioners to work for the public healthcare system (SUS) in order to address shortages in remote, small, and underserved towns and suburbs.
As he reviewed the year’s activities, the president of the House of Deputies, Henrique Alves, underscored the relevance of the new ports regulation, which aims to ensure competitiveness, enhance infrastructure, and attract private capital.
Edited by Valéria Aguiar/ Lícia Marques
Translated by Mayra Borges
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