The PDT candidate for the Presidency of the Republic, Ciro Gomes, proposed today (2) that Brazil reaches, in 30 years, the standard of living existing in Portugal. “Portugal is the poorest country in Western Europe, so this is no impossible task,” he said during an event organized by the São Paulo section of the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB/SP).
According to him, if Brazil grows at an average of 4.5% or 5%, Brazil will become Portugal in terms of social and economic indicators. “It’s a long term,” said Ciro.
At the event, Ciro also said that the public spending cap policy, instituted by the Constitutional Amendment 95/2016, prevents the state from expanding investments in essential areas, such as health, education and security. However, at the same time, according to him, the mechanism keeps untouched the portion of the budget destined to the payment of interest on the public debt.
“The spending ceiling is serving only one thing: to be the crippling tool of the investment rate [públicos] which, for the first time in the country’s history, is close to zero”, commented the candidate. “This evidently condemns Brazil.”
According to him, being against the spending cap policy does not mean not seeking fiscal austerity. Even criticizing the constitutional amendment, he defends that the state should not spend more than it collects.
“Only there is no precedent of any nation that has put [medida como essa]with status Constitution, with this rigidity, for 20 years, which can only apply in health, education and public security the critical levels of application of [recursos de] today, plus inflation [do ano anterior]”, pondered Gomes.
Ciro concluded his speech by saying that “this model, despite being devastating for the real economy and society, is extremely enriching for a minority with very powerful interests”.
Click here and check the candidates schedule to the Presidency of the Republic for this Friday (2/9).
