RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – A letter signed by 20 governors was published with the purpose of defending national democracy, which, according to the governors, has been under constant attack by the one person who should be its main advocate, President Jair Bolsonaro.
In the text, the governors show support for the presidents of the Chamber of Deputies, Rodrigo Maia, and the Senate, Davi Alcolumbre. The governors also call for dialogue and unity in the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic.
National Forum of Governors
“Open Letter to Brazilian Society in Defense of Democracy
The National Forum of Governors expresses support for the President of the Federal Senate, Davi Alcolumbre, and the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Rodrigo Maia, in light of statements by the President of the Republic, Jair Bolsonaro, regarding the stance of the two leaders of the Brazilian Congress, challenging the democratic principles that underpin our nation.
At this time in which the world is experiencing one of its greatest crises, we have witnessed the commitment with which the presidents of the Senate and the Chamber have been leading, focusing particular attention to the needs of states, the Federal District and Brazilian municipalities.
Both have shown themselves aware that it is in these spheres that the hardest fight against our common enemy, the coronavirus, occurs and where, therefore, the greatest efforts of federative aid must be centered.
Our action in the States, in the Federal District and in the Cities has been guided by scientific indicators, by the directions of health professionals and by the experience of countries that have already faced harder stages of the pandemic, seeking, in this case, to prevent unsuccessful choices and pursue the successful ones.
We do not believe there are irreconcilable conflicts between safeguarding the health of the population and protecting the national economy, although the time to act more directly in favor of one or the other may be different.
We consider it vital to overcome our occasional differences through the effort of democratic dialogue and devoid of vanity.
The health and life of the Brazilian people must be far above political interests, particularly in this time of crisis.”
Signatories of the Letter:
Renan Filho (MDB – Brazilian Democratic Movement), Alagoas;
Waldez Góes (PDT – Democratic Labor Party), Amapá;
Rui Costa (PT – Workers’ Party), Bahia;
Camilo Santana (PT – Workers’ Party), Ceará;
Renato Casagrande (PSB -Brazilian Socialist Party), Espírito Santo;
Ronaldo Caiado (DEM – Democrats), Goiás;
Flávio Dino (PCdoB – Communist Party of Brazil), Maranhão;
Mauro Mendes (DEM -Democrats ), Mato Grosso;
Reinaldo Azambuja (PSDB – Brazilian Social Democracy Party), Mato Grosso do Sul;
Helder Barbalho (MDB – Brazilian Democratic Movement), Pará;
João Azevêdo (Cidadania – Citizenship Party), Paraíba;
Paulo Câmara (PSB – Brazilian Socialist Party), Pernambuco;
Wellington Dias (PT – Workers’ Party), Piauí.
Wilson Witzel (PSC – Social Christian Party), Rio de Janeiro;
Fátima Bezerra (PT – Workers’ Party), Rio Grande do Norte;
Eduardo Leite (PSDB – Brazilian Social Democracy Party ), Rio Grande do Sul;
Carlos Moisés (PSL – Social Liberal Party), Santa Catarina;
João Doria (PSDB – Brazilian Social Democracy Party), São Paulo;
Belivaldo Chagas (PSD – Social Democratic Party), Sergipe;
Mauro Carlesse (DEM – Democrats), Tocantins.