The rapprochement between President Lula (PT) and the governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans), in actions related to support for victims of the rains that hit the north coast of São Paulo caused discomfort among politicians and Bolsonarist Internet users, according to the press. For the Minister of the Communication Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic (Secom), Paulo Pimenta, the repercussions occurred because “the principle of the federative relationship had been abandoned” in the country. This Tuesday (21), Pimenta made a series of posts on social networks commenting on the subject.
“What should have been an ordinary fact, authorities from different parties united to work together for the common good, gained enormous repercussions because this ‘basic principle’ of the federative relationship had been abandoned”, he said, via Twitter.
Lula and Tarcísio publicly approached on Monday (20), with the presence of the PT and a delegation of ministers who traveled to the north coast of São Paulo to see up close the damage caused by the heavy rain that hit the region. Unlike what happened during the October elections, when the two managers, then candidates, were in rival poles, the meeting symbolized a political rapprochement and was marked by a friendly atmosphere, with gestures such as hugs and handshakes.
Read more: Lula praises union and says election is over; Tarcísio transfers office to São Sebastião
The two promised mutual cooperation in seeking to contain the local crisis triggered by the storm and in solving the problems created by the storm, which has so far left 44 people dead and 49 missing.
“The hatred, fury, and lies published by Bolsonarists, unhappy with this gesture of unity and respect, are revealing of contempt for democracy and the pain of our people. They deserve our contempt and must be ignored. Union and reconstruction, that is the way”, commented Paulo Pimenta, in another twitter post.
Investment
The minister also countered a post by federal deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro (PL-SP) that showed the amount of R$ 2 million to be released by the federal government to help the victims of the storm. By ironizing the figure of Lula calling him the “father of the poor”, the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) showed a news item that publicized this investment and compared it with another article that reported a fundraising in the amount of Rs. $ 5 million made by actress Cláudia Raia under the Rouanet Law, one of the main instruments of the culture incentive policy in the country.
In a similar post, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ) also commented on the amount of BRL 2 million destined to support the victims and compared it with the case involving the actress. “The president of all Brazilians, as long as they are ‘companheiros'”, he joked. Other Bolsonaristas echoed and posted similar things.
Read too: Release of FGTS, donation of seized items: see measures already announced for the coast of SP
Deputy Carla Zambelli (PL-SP), for example, mentioned the BRL 700 million credit released by Bolsonaro at the end of 2021 through a provisional measure aimed at helping regions hit by storms in Minas Gerais and Bahia. “Lula released R$2 million? What kind of president is this? We had a president”, she teased her, through her Twitter profile.
“Unfortunately, those people who are dedicated to the politics of hate, lies, perversity and fake news do not respect even a moment like this. It’s a lie. Hundreds of millions of reais will be needed to recover roads, remove and build new houses, recover schools and health units”, countered Pimenta, in a video posted on the internet.
UNION AND RECONSTRUCTION
The mobilization coordinated by the @LulaOficial to help victims of the rains in SP shows how a true leader behaves at the time of difficulty. O @govbr will not measure efforts to help the population, do not fall for the lies of the hate group. pic.twitter.com/AhCCQ2fXzS
— Paulo Pimenta (@Pimenta13Br) February 21, 2023
Editing: Nicolau Soares