Brasil de Fato<\/p>\n
Guilherme Boulos<\/a> from the Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL) appeared on Brasil de Fato<\/strong> on Wednesday night (4) for a special edition of the Tr\u00eas por Quatro<\/em> podcast, featuring interviews with the candidates for mayor of S\u00e3o Paulo in the 2024 elections.<\/p>\n The progressive candidate, who is ahead in the polls, began by emphasizing that \u201cwe need to understand that this year in S\u00e3o Paulo, we are fighting a battle similar to the one against ‘bolsonarism’ two years ago [when former President Jair Bolsonaro lost to Lula]. We must defeat the far right: this far right that is extremely violent, dangerous, and criminal.\u201d<\/p>\n Latin America’s largest city, S\u00e3o Paulo has an estimated population of approximately 22.8 million, and by 2023, its GDP had grown<\/a> to around R$ 880 billion (over US$ 158,000).\u00a0Born in the city, Boulos became prominent in the popular housing movements. A teacher and political activist, he ran for mayor of S\u00e3o Paulo in 2020 but was not elected. In 2022, he was the most-voted federal legislator in the state.<\/p>\n According to Boulos, he faces two major adversaries in his campaign: ‘bolsonarism<\/a>‘, a political ideology associated with Jair Bolsonaro, and militia banditry – refers to the criminal activities carried out by militia groups. In Brazil, these groups often consist of former or off-duty police officers and military personnel who engage in illegal activities such as extortion, protection rackets, and control over certain territories, particularly in urban areas.<\/p>\n Boulos pointed out that the presence of ‘bolsonarism’ in the form of two candidates is a new and worrying fact in the electoral dispute. He mentioned Pablo Mar\u00e7al from the Brazilian Labour Renewal Party (PRTB) as a representative of a virulent and violent bolsonarism, characterized by aggressive attacks and a lack of limits. The current mayor<\/a> and candidate for re-election, Ricardo Nunes from the Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB), was described by Boulos as a more moderate ‘bolsonarism’ ally, with ‘good manners’ but equally dangerous.<\/p>\n He also criticized Nunes’ stance, recalling an interview in which the mayor made unfounded accusations against him. According to Boulos, the ideological dispute is one of the central points of this election, with the far-right represented by both Mar\u00e7al and Nunes. He stressed the importance of fighting these forces to ensure an administration committed to the population’s interests.<\/p>\n Transport, healthcare and private sector<\/p>\n The candidate proposed revising public transport contracts to address the sector\u2019s issues, highlighting that despite the city government\u2019s subsidy nearly doubling, companies have reduced trips by around 20%. \u201cIt was during the Ricardo Nunes [current] administration that we witnessed the infiltration of crime into S\u00e3o Paulo\u2019s transportation system,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n A significant promise regarding the city\u2019s funeral system was made: he stated that, if elected, the contracts with the private companies<\/a> currently managing the sector will be terminated. Boulos harshly criticized the privatization of the system, arguing that it led to a substantial increase in costs for the population, making funeral services unaffordable for many families. \u201cMy goal is to fully restore public control and put an end to this death industry in S\u00e3o Paulo\u201d, he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Boulos also mentioned that this measure is part of a broader set of policies to reduce social inequalities in S\u00e3o Paulo. He emphasized the importance of a public administration committed to the well-being of the population and the provision of quality essential services.<\/p>\n Boulos also defended the creation of mobile Psychosocial Care Center (Caps, in Portuguese) units with street clinics in areas of crack use to tackle the issue of Crackland (Cracol\u00e2ndia, in Portuguese) located in the center of town.\u00a0In addition, Boulos suggested mental health treatment based on successful experiences in other countries, social assistance, shelter programs with housing and income generation, and the fight against organized crime.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n The latest Datafolha poll, released on August 22, shows Boulos leading with 23% of the votes, followed by Mar\u00e7al with 21% and Nunes with 19%, all within the three-percentage-point margin of error. The fight against the far-right has been a recurring theme in previous debates, and other candidates have also supported this stance.<\/p>\n Watch the full episode in Portuguese below:<\/p>\n<\/p>\n BdF political interviews series<\/p>\n The first interviewee in\u00a0the Brasil de Fato<\/strong>‘s series of interviews was\u00a0Altino Prazeres Jr. form the United Socialist Workers’ Party (PSTU, in Portuguese). He proposes a review of privatizations in health and education, as well as ending outsourcing processes such as contracted daycare centers and Social Organizations in health. Prazeres Jr. criticizes the participation of private companies in essential services and suggests nationalizing municipal public transport to implement a zero-fare system.\u00a0<\/p>\n A union activist and subway worker for 29 years, Prazeres Jr. was president of the subway workers’ union and was even fired after speaking out against the privatization of the subway, but a court decision reinstated him. Critical of the participation of private companies in the provision of essential services to the population, he makes this the highlight of his campaigns. \u00a0<\/p>\n