Brazil’s Minister of Development and Social Assistance, Family and Fight against Hunger, Wellington Dias, criticized the communication ability of the federal government, which has had difficulties presenting to the population the social and economic projects and figures of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's (Workers’ Party) administration.
"We still have to improve our political relations approach, communication, the way we deal with various sectors of society," said Dias, in an interview with Brasil de Fato. "And I say there is work to be done to achieve even better results. The government is much bigger than we can say."
The encounter with the minister took place after the meeting held in the city of São Paulo with popular movements and trade unions to define the agenda of the militants' meeting with Lula, which should take place in Brasília, Federal District, next Saturday (13), or in São Paulo, on July 20.
In the interview, the minister spoke about the relationship with the [social and popular] movements, especially the evangelicals, and showed confidence in the government's rapprochement with the group.
"We're in a position to work in both social and other areas, taking into account what President Lula tells us every day: that we have to take care of people - evangelicals, as well as Catholics, Spiritists, you name it," he explained. "We have people who don't have housing. They are the ones we must reach out to, through their leaders, valuing their organizations."
Check out the full interview below
Brasil de Fato: We've been following the first electoral polls and one of the highlights is that the Workers’ Party – the PT, in Portuguese – is facing difficulties to make some candidates competitive in state capitals. Specifically in Teresina, the capital city of the state of Piauí [the minister’s birthplace], Fábio Novo is now in the lead, after having started among the last candidates, and Maria do Rosário in Porto Alegre [the capital city of Rio Grande do Sul]. But I'd like you to talk a bit about the party's expectations for the elections, specifically in the capitals.
Wellington Dias: I like to compare the election to agriculture: there is a moment for planting and harvesting. Whenever you have a good harvest of what you plant in politics, it also brings results that strengthen those who coordinate the project.
President Lula was elected amid a very tense environment, in a very unbalanced country having to deal with a complex international relationship, because many of the countries with which we have always enjoyed a good relationship faced problems with the previous [Brazilian] government. During the reconstruction [of the country], we have been successful in international relations. President Lula is now one of the most important leaders in the world, leading the main global forums – the G20, BRICS, Mercosur, you name it.
Now, the global alliance against hunger and poverty is an alliance that has a great role to play, which embraces the need for greater responsibility to curb climate change, [establish] new governance in international organizations and a policy of peace, of good relations with the entire world. We also had the lowest level of extreme poverty in the country's history, with the lowest inequality rate and, at the same time, removing from the hunger map 33,1 million who were food insecure.
So, the resumption of the housing policy, the energy policy, the communication policy, the popular pharmacy, the food acquisition program, the Harvest Plan, the Family Farming Program... All of this has an effect on the country's 5,700 municipalities. That’s extraordinary in the project he [Lula] is working on. In other words, the federal government reaches most Brazilian homes. The federal government reaches most of the population.
Of course this will produce results, but these results also depend on the capacity of the party to organize. The president takes care of governance. He's a political leader, but he works to achieve good results. Of course, it's up to the Workers' Party and the other parties to do their part.
Walking around Brazil I became excited. I believe we'll see growth in every state. We have many important leaders who will also be present [in the PT electoral campaigns], participating, and helping to build victories... So, I believe we have a good chance in several capitals.
I would mention Teresina, Fortaleza [Ceará] and Natal [Rio Grande do Norte] in northeast Brazil, but also Goiânia [Goiás], Rio Branco [Acre] and Porto Alegre [Rio Grande do Sul]. We can compete in Belém [Pará] and in cities in northern Brazil. I was recently in Santarém [Pará]. Work is being done there so that we can win [elections].
We're going to increase the number of mayors, not only from the Workers' Party, but also supporting leaders who are with us, even when some parties still have divisions — firm leaders. [We will] Also increase the number of elected city councilors.
Now, let’s talk about the government's communication with a specific social group: evangelicals. I read this week that the Acredita program, on which you've focused your agenda, has already been used by the government to get closer to churches. It has been presented to pastors in poor neighborhoods to serve as a bridge for small entrepreneurs in these regions. Is this your bet or does the government have a greater intention of dialoguing and getting closer to evangelicals, who have been a thorn in your path?
I look at Brazilian reality and see an increase in the number of people who reject politics and politicians in general. We're in a position to work in both social and other areas, taking into account what President Lula tells us every day: that we have to take care of people – evangelicals, as well as Catholics, Spiritists, you name it.
There are homeless people and it's to them that we have to reach out, through their leaders, valuing their organizations. Just as we reach out with a movement linked to farmers, with housing for a settlement, for a rural community, so we reach out with neighborhood organizations.
We continue to work on this approach, trying to gain trust, including when we have the opportunity to meet eye to eye. I say it's love that's going to win the more we do, with more People's Pharmacy Program, with the Family Grant program for those who have no income, reaching people with the Cooking Gas Aid, supporting those young people to get a foot in the door, to get a qualification.
We now have a way out for those who want to start a business with technical support, assistance and a guarantee fund, which is what we're working on with the Acredita [Believe, in English] program. So, I believe that the policies that the president is working on for the country, reaching these people in an organized way, so to speak, will bring results.
In the first two answers, it seemed to me that you diagnosed – but without saying it – that the federal government needs to better communicate everything it has done, the whole framework of social projects it has, to the population, so that they are informed about. Why can't the government communicate efficiently?
Look, Brasil de Fato is an expert in communication, but I dare say the government is perfect. No. We still have to improve our political relations approach, communication, and the way we deal with various sectors of society. And I say there is work to be done to achieve even better results. The government is much bigger than we can say.
Which country in the world has lifted 74% of its population out of food insecurity? None. What country in the world has reduced extreme poverty as much as Brazil? None. What country has reduced poverty at such a delicate time as 2023, half of 2024? None.
So, what has happened in Brazil with the volume of investments, with the positive balance of employment and economic growth is that we have solid growth, with a foreign exchange reserve. People recognize that life has improved. What's the point? It's how we make people realize that this is the result of a project headed by the federal government, whose president is Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Edited by: Martina Medina
