In an interview with Brasil de Fato, Guilherme Boulos (Socialism and Freedom Party, also known as PSOL), currently a federal deputy and pre-candidate for mayor of São Paulo - Brazil’s largest city - criticized the privatization process of the Basic Sanitation Company of the State of São Paulo (Sabesp, in Portuguese), which may be analyzed by City Hall in the first semester of this year.
“Privatizing Sabesp is a scandal. São Paulo gave up resources. [The city of São Paulo] gave up the leading role in the process and handed it over to the state government in exchange for electoral support, embracing politicking. [Ricardo Nunes, São Paulo’s mayor] gave up interests concerning the city of São Paulo so that [governor] Tarcísio de Freitas could support his reelection. We will work to stop the privatization process. If they don't privatize this year, they won't privatize anymore," Boulos warned.
São Paulo's contract with the company that guarantees control of Sabesp should last 60 years. If Boulos wins the election, he would have to maintain the agreement Ricardo Nunes signed.
São Paulo City Councilor Milton Leite (Union Brasil), the president of the City Council, has already decided that the councilors will analyze and vote on the Sabesp privatization project. The decision was made after a meeting with Mayor Ricardo Nunes (MDB Party) at City Hall on February 22.
Hidden
In his official agenda, interviews and social media accounts, Ricardo Nunes has avoided exposing the support he has received from former President Jair Bolsonaro (Liberal Party). On February 25, during the demonstration in support of the former president, Nunes attended the event but did not publish any photos or videos of it.
To Boulos, the mayor is afraid to present Bolsonaro in his electoral campaign. However, he will have to do so until October, when voters of São Paulo go to the polls to decide who will run the city.
"No lie can last long. Ricardo Nunes is trying to sell the idea that he is not a Bolsonaro supporter, that he is not linked to Bolsonaro and that, actually, he is a centrist. Nunes knows Bolsonaro is rejected in the city. A recent Datafolha survey has shown that 63% of São Paulo voters would not vote for someone supported by Bolsonaro. He's an ashamed ‘Bolsonarista’ [supporter of Bolsonaro in Portuguese]. He supported Bolsonaro in 2022 and now he's embarrassingly gone after Bolsonaro. Now, we're not campaigning yet and the debate isn't on television every day. When it comes to electoral campaigns, people will know who each person's supporter is. I'm proud to be supported by Lula," added Boulos.
Edited by: Raquel Setz
