The inauguration ceremony of Enio Verri (Workers’ Party – Paraná) as the new Brazilian general director of Itaipu Binacional, held on the morning of Thursday 16, in Foz do Iguaçu (Paraná), was the scene of statements in defense of the national leadership together with regional development in Latin America.
“It is not possible to imagine a rich country surrounded by poor countries on all sides. Brazil, like an older brother, has the responsibility to make other countries grow with us, so that we can live in a continent of peace and civility,” he stressed. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, speaking during the ceremony.
Also present at the ceremony were the President of Paraguay, Mario Abdo Benítez, the interim governor of the state of Paraná, Darci Piana, political leaders of the Workers’ Party and representatives of organized civil society from the western region of Paraná.
“We need to improve our foreign policy. Brazil, due to its territorial extension, its population, being the most developed country from an industrial, scientific and technological point of view, must have the greatness of being humble and of sharing everything good with the peoples of neighboring countries. Only in this way will we be able to ensure that this continent continues in peace,” the president reinforced.
Read More: Lula meets the family of Marcelo Arruda, assassinated by a Bolsonaro in Foz do Iguaçu (available in Portuguese)
In his first visit to Foz do Iguaçu since the start of his third term as president of Brazil, Lula reiterated his campaign commitment to strengthen the Common Market of the South (Mercosur) and reorganize the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), both neglected initiatives by the management of former president Jair Bolsonaro.
“It has already been shown that together we have more strength to negotiate and that apart we are fragile. The countries of Latin America need to understand that we have the right to grow and share that growth with the population,” Lula said.
social commitment
In his inauguration speech, the federal deputy, who took leave to command the Brazilian part of Itaipu Binacional, highlighted his commitment to the social policies defended by Lula in the 2022 elections.
“I want to put on record that Itaipu will once again collaborate actively with the federal government and with the recognized technical excellence of its employees to strengthen policies for social inclusion and combat all forms of inequality,” emphasized Enio Verri.
University professor and economist by training, Verri affirmed that the hydroelectric plant is not limited to being a mere power generator, but “an example of a bilateral project of reconciliation, cooperation and integration between Brazil and Paraguay.”
The new Brazilian director of Itaipu also guaranteed that the state company will walk alongside educational institutions to guarantee the necessary social transformation in the territory it occupies.
“There are those who prefer to approach energy only from the economic side, as an essential input for development, which is essentially true. However, I prefer to emphasize the social dimension of energy, the universalization of access is an enabling condition for citizens in the 21st century. It is also essential to incorporate into the market those excluded from access to basic goods. We want energy for everyone. This is a basic right that the State has the obligation to guarantee, for which reason it is even considered an essential good “, he defended.
Regarding the continuity of the works started during the previous government, Verri was categorical in pointing out that there will be no interruption of what is in progress and that new ventures will be analyzed according to the function of the company.
Source: BdF Paraná
Editing: Lia Bianchini
