RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Former President Fernando Henrique Cardoso said in an interview that he does not feel obliged to support a PSDB (Brazilian Social Democratic Party) candidate in the 2022 presidential election and that he will support anyone who is able to defeat Jair Bolsonaro and has a “social conscience”.
“I don’t feel compelled to support someone from the PSDB in the current circumstances. I feel compelled to support someone who is a democrat and is able to beat Jair Bolsonaro,” said FHC.
However, the ex-president reiterated that he approves and tends to support PSDB candidates, such as João Doria and Eduardo Leite.
Asked about the accusations against Aécio Neves, José Serra, and Geraldo Alckmin, he answered: “The PSDB cannot be confused for two or three people. Serra has a very great intellectual capacity, he is my friend, but he needs to explain the things they are asking. I think Geraldo is absolutely innocent and Aécio has to assess what happened in Minas, I don’t know.”
FHC also said that Lula is self-centered and that he believes that the PT (Worker’s Party) will lose the election because it no longer enjoys the popular support it once had.
“Lula is so focused on himself that he thinks that maybe the PT could have another candidate. Of course it could have another candidate.”
He said that Lula is “trying to disguise his wish to return,” and showed no willingness to support Ciro Gomes because he is “fickle”.
Fernando Henrique said he still doesn’t see a corruption organization in Jair Bolsonaro’s government and that caution is needed in exposing accusations made to the President’s children.
“In the current government, I don’t see an organization of corruption. I don’t see it. A son is a favorite dish for the press. You have to take it slow,” said FHC.
The ex-president said he does not consider that Brazilian democracy is at risk. Asked what rating he would grant the strength of Brazilian institutions, where ten represents a strengthened democracy, FHC rated it seven, saying that the institutions are solid and the press is free, but criticized Jair Bolsonaro’s attitude towards the press and said that the President needs to show self-control.
“Even if (the reporter) isn’t polite, even if it is a impudent question, you can’t be disrespectful, because the strength (of a president) is disproportionate. The position of a president is so symbolic that, when you criticize it, it’s an attack and, when you attack him, it’s a public stoning.”
FHC also argued that every time “President Bolsonaro exaggerates there must be a counterstrike” and opposed the prospect of reelecting the presidents of the Chamber and the Senate in the same legislature.
“I would not do it. Breaking a rule to enable someone to perpetuate themselves is unhealthy. It’s better not to have a general reelection.”
Source: Época