"We cannot be treated as a banana republic Luis Inacio da Silva affirms that his government will reclaim the Brazilian economy's weight in the international context: "We have to occupy the space that belongs to us and be respected”. "Trade must be a two-way street where everyone comes out a winner without the subjection of some"
BY DEISY FRANCIS MEXIDOR
"My principal reason for becoming president of Brazil is to give
our country a new direction," affirms Luis Inacio Lula da Silva,
the recently elected leader of that South American nation after standing
on three previous occasions, in an exclusive interview. Lula, for the
Workers Party (PT) in a coalition with the conservative Liberal Party
and other left groupings and movements, gained more than 60% of the vote,
with Jos Serra, the government candidate, trailing behind.
Familiar with the lives of the workers, from whose ranks he emerged in
the metallurgical sector, he was born in October 1945 in Valle Grande,
now Caets, into a campesino family. The exact date of his birth is subject
to controversy, because his father registered him on October 6, but his
mother insists it was October 27. In any case, it is some coincidence
that 57 years later, the first and second rounds of the presidential elections
in the country were held on those same dates. Closely following events
at that time, we sought a way to establish contact with Lula. We were
aware it was no easy undertaking given the maelstrom of Brazil not just
in the run up to the elections but now, with the transition toward a new
government that takes possession in January; moreover, trying to do a
long-distance interview is like throwing a bottle into the sea: it might
get lost.
However, thanks to the collaboration of Giancarlo Summa and especially Rodrigo Savazoni, the press advisor in Lula's campaign, we achieved our aim and, via e-mail, received Lulu's answers to each of the formulated questions, in a file named: lulaparacuba.doc
FTAA: AN UNACCEPTABLE PROPOSITION
The first question was on the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) and
its consequences for the peoples south of the Ro Bravo if it is implemented.
"I am a defender of Latin American integration, not just its economic
and commercial integration but likewise in the political and cultural
context," he admitted.
"The FTAA proposition in its current context is unacceptable. It
is not a Free Trade Treaty with the United States, it is a proposal to
annex the economy of South America and the Caribbean to the U.S. economy.
Without Brazil, the FTAA cannot exist; apart from that, a genuine integration
would include Cuba.
"An integration proposal presupposes a certain equity among the participating
members. The United States maintains technological, military, cultural
and economic hegemony and does not propose to exercise a compensatory
policy like the European Union has for Spain, Portugal and Greece, for
example.
"The Brazilian people have paid a very high price for Brazil's submission
to the neoliberal globalization commanded by the United States. Our country
has given in to the demands of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and
the World Bank and has been timid in its approaches to the World Trade
Organization, all organizations controlled by the richest countries. Everything
indicates that that cost is going to increase even more if Brazil submits
to its forced integration into the FTAA.
"A study undertaken by the Brazilian embassy in Washington confirmed
that Brazilian exports to the United States are subject to an average
tariff of 45%, while U.S. exports to Brazil have an average of only 15%.
The Bush administration wants to discuss the FTAA without bringing those
tax limitations imposed on virtually all the products in which Brazil
is most competitive to the negotiating table.
"So what are we going to discuss? Nothing more than the reduction
of MERCOSUR Common External Tariff or the Informatics Law that we have
just approved? Or the simple annexation of Brazil to the United States?
"Trade must be a two-way street, where everyone comes out winning without the subjection of some. The Bush government has taken protectionist measures to the detriment of other nations and that cannot be consolidated into a general free trade agreement.
"In terms of U.S. products, with rare exceptions they enter Brazil freely. Sixty percent of Brazilian exports to the United States come up against some kind of obstacle before entering that territory. With surcharges like those on steel and orange juice - when there aren't import quotas as in the case of sugar, or anti-dumping and phyto-sanitary actions - all of that reduces Brazil's export potential.
"We have lost ground in international trade in the last decade, purely due to unfavourable trade agreements and the government failure to take advantage of the spectacular trade expansion evident in the world. In that context it is not possible to enter into a new commercial venture where nothing is offered and much is asked of Brazil," Luis Inacio affirmed.
"Our government is not going to submit and will firmly defend the nation's interests, giving value to its weight in the international context. Our present participation is small, but could be increased; Brazil is still the tenth largest economy in the world. We cannot be treated like a banana republic. We have to occupy the space that belongs to us and be respected.
"We are going to combat protectionism by trying to open markets to Brazilian products and above all by defending our sovereignty."
In another part of his reflections and in reference to MERCOSUR, the
president elect noted: "For Brazil it is more interesting to defend
it at this point, because it is going through a crisis, but it has been
very important in terms of making trade among its
members more dynamic. Reinforcing it means attracting the Andean countries
into the agreement, increasing its links with the European Union and expanding
trade with China, India, Asia in general, with South Africa and with all
nations where there is space to grow."
DEBT TO BE REPAID
When Lula assumes the presidency in January 2003, he will be taking on
a tremendous challenge with the millions and millions of men and women
who placed their trust in him as an alternative for change, and he affirms
that. "Brazil has a social debt with our people that at some point
has to be paid. The press has talked about the external debt, the internal
debt, but little of the social debt, which is very large.
"Our country is indebted to Brazilian Indians, black people, women,
children, persons with disabilities, the homeless. We need to pay that
debt.
"The Workers Party has stood out for the public policies it has developed
in order to reduce Brazilian social inequality. Programs like the study
scholarships, minimum rent, restarts, first jobs, among others, have generated
positive results. That, in conjunction with the reforms that we are proposing
- taxation, agrarian, political, labour, legal - is going to give force
to the changes we want to improve Brazilians' lives.
"I have always said that I am going to fight so that every person
in Brazil gets at least three meals a day. The Zero Hunger project that
we did in the Citizens' Institute and which was incorporated into our
government program demonstrates how to do away with the hunger of close
to 50 million Brazilians within a four-year period. We have a historical
commitment to social justice and decency and we are going to fulfil it."
STRATEGY AND A NEW DIRECTION
According to surveys, Lula's election was assured from the beginning.
On this fourth occasion the analysts and surveys were not mistaken. At
this point there is a 90-day period before he assumes power, during which,
as Lula himself commented, he is to try and take advantage of the time
available to set up his government and prepare the transition in the best
possible way. "This includes extending and intensifying the channels
of participation and discussion with the most diverse social sectors,"
he stated.
On the other hand, in terms of the crisis and instability in the South
American nation, which has not been solved via the neoliberal model, Luis
Inacio Lula da Silva commented: "Brazil needs a president of the
republic who has political leadership and a capacity for negotiation in
order to undertake a new social contract.
"Everybody knows that I started to form my political convictions
and develop my negotiating capacity by defending democracy in the harsh
conditions of the military regime. My greatest dream is to contribute
with my life and political experience to improving the situation of the
Brazilian people.
"That means combating poverty and doing away with the hunger that
is still punishing almost 50 million persons in national territory. It
means making it possible for the great majority of the Brazilian people
to obtain citizenship; that young people do not have to face the incredible
difficulties that I and many other people experienced in our lives.
"Improving Brazil means giving our country the value that it merits,
transforming it into the great nation dreamed of for generations. It means
changing its direction, moving away from the situation of vulnerability
to which it has been brought by the current economic policy. It means
reassuming development with a distribution of the profits and social justice.
"But it isn't easy. Above all, what is essential is a president committed
body and soul to those objectives. I am preparing myself for that and
I have that commitment.
"I made it clear in a letter to the Brazilian people, recently handed
over to the nation, that a lucid and careful transition will be necessary
between what we have today and that which society is reclaiming. What
was not done in eight years cannot be redressed in eight days. The new
model cannot be a product of unilateral government decisions, as is the
case today, nor will it be implemented by decree, in a voluntarist way.
"It will be the fruit of a broad national negotiation that should
lead to an authentic alliance for the country, capable of guaranteeing
growth with stability. To do that, we are going to lower taxes, increase
exports and offer incentives in a planned way for the replacement of imports,
by resolving the issue of the Brazilian economy's extreme external vulnerability.
"It is in that context that we will create better conditions for
meeting contracts signed by the present government, without compromising
the social goals of our government."
On the issue of coalitions in his current campaign as a component of his
victory, Luis Inacio Lula da Silva was categorical: "The growing
adherence to our candidacy has steadily assumed more of the nature of
a movement in defense of Brazil, of our rights and fundamental desires
in terms of being an independent nation.
"Popular leaders, academics, artists and religious figures spontaneously
announced their support of a project for change in Brazil.
Prefects and parliamentarians of parties that are not in coalition with
the PT have declared their support. Significant sectors of the business
community have linked themselves to our project. This is about a vast
coalition, supra-party in many aspects, seeking to open new horizons for
our country."
It is a fact that the die has been cast. Luis Inacio Lula da Silva has
crowned his aspirations of reaching his country's presidency. A difficult
mission for the first president in the history of Brazil to have emerged
from the ranks of the people.