By Rute Moraes
(Opinion) Federal congressman Luciano Zucco (Republican-RS), 48, better known as Lieutenant-Colonel Zucco, was the champion of votes in Rio Grande do Sul – 260,000 – in the elections.
Four years ago, he was also the most-voted state congressman and started his political career with agendas focused on public security.
Now, in the first days of his mandate at the federal level, Zucco does not look favorably on Lula’s plan for the sector, especially the temptation to create a “praetorian” National Guard for the president.
“This administration started in a very negative way with the suspension of decrees, especially that of legitimate defense, the issue of armament,” said the congressman in an interview with Oeste.
“This story of the National Guard, to substitute the National Force, has no basis. The Lula government wants a police force with ideology. That doesn’t add anything.”
A graduate of Military Sciences from the Agulhas Negras Military Academy, he also commented on the conservative opposition to the Lula government.
He proposed creating the “Brasília Forum”, an ideological counterpoint to the São Paulo Forum.
Read the main parts of the interview.
How do you see the conservative opposition to President Lula’s government?
I can’t speak for other people, but Parliament is the state of society.
In the 2018 election, many of those who were elected with the agendas of former president Jair Bolsonaro ended up, at some point, failing to defend what, for them, was narratively faithful.
I hope we have a responsible opposition.
If there are positive agendas, we will continually evaluate them. Most of the parliamentarians elected in the last election, with the wave of former president Jair Bolsonaro, will establish opposition in Congress.
I have enormous differences with this new government of president Lula.
Including this administration started negatively with the suspension of decrees, especially the one regarding self-defense, the issue of weapons, etc.
Dozens of gun clubs are being closed, and thousands of jobs are lost.
All this without having the responsibility to investigate whether the violence rates were high or low.
The Bolsonaro government decreased from 60,000 homicides per year to 40,000.
This government already wants to weaken the civic-military schools, a very successful program, and I don’t understand why this government is trying to end it.
It is pure ideology.
Besides, this story about the National Guard substituting for the National Force is unfounded.
The Lula government wants a police force with ideology. This doesn’t add anything.
We already have the military, civil, federal, and federal highway police and the Armed Forces.
What are the main guidelines that you will defend?
I will work with the positive agendas in my state, such as the policy of attention to children’s cancer, transparency in public works, civic-military schools, and respect for the branches of government.
I am also proposing a Mixed Parliamentary Front, “Brasília Forum”, where we will work to strengthen the National Congress.
I have talked to Senator Damares Alves and other parliamentarians about the subject.
The “Brasília Forum”, which should be an ideological counterpoint to the São Paulo Forum, will bring together congressmen and senators identified with the conservative agenda.
The idea is to promote debates, discuss political, economic, and social theses, and strengthen the fight for democratic freedoms. We will be a responsible opposition.
What is your evaluation of the first month of the Lula government?
Extremely negative. This new government is on a revenge project because they are changing scenarios and policies that worked.
Besides the public security issues, which I have already commented on, I see that several ministers of a non-technical nature have been nominated.
This is very different from what the Bolsonaro administration has done.
We will show that the conservative Congress will position itself firmly, and we will have a very active voice of inspection. We have 50% of Brazilians who are right-wing and conservative.
Are you in favor of the CPI of the Demonstrations?
Yes. We must identify those who went beyond the red light and did not respect the Constitution.
However, I also want to know the government’s participation in these acts.
On January 8, the government was already sworn in.
Strangely, a chief executive does not want this CPI.
In a very responsible and careful way, I will be in favor of the CPI.
You have spoken a lot about the Senate elections on social networks. What should happen in the House after the reelection of president Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD-MG)?
Senator Rogério Marinho (PL-RN), who lost to Pacheco, would value the Congress and give voice to the impeachment petitions against the ministers of the Supreme Court.
This will not happen with Pacheco because he is more of the same.
He is a senator who does not add value to the National Congress.
We want a strong Senate with enough authority for the other branches of government to be independent.
The STF has to deal with its agendas, as does the Planalto, and Congress must have its due respect.
With information from Revista Oeste