'We Can't Make Fools of Ourselves,' Says Former Governor of Rio
On Monday (20), executive secretary of the Invesment Partnerships Program (PPI) and former governo of Rio Moreira Franco, defended the federal government's bailout of the state of Rio. He also emphasized that hosting the Olympic Games is yet another reason why the situation should be given priority.
"The state is in a horrible situation. Employees and the retired are not receiving paychecks. Essential services are being disrupted. And of course, in this context, we cannot simply focus on public servants, or the State, just like we can't make international fools of ourselves", he said.
On Friday (17), Rio's current governor, Francisco Dornelles (PP), declared a state of public calamity. The document claims that Rio's financial crisis would keep the state from honoring its Olympic commitments.
The decree opened the way for Rio state to receive R$ 2.9 billion (US$ 850 million) from the federal government to be applied towards the payment of public employees and the completion of Line 4 of the metro system, specifically designed for the Olympics.
With the measure, other Brazilian states are expected to pressure the federal government for assistance. Moreira Franco said Rio state has a leg up on the others for the money: the Olympics, in August.
"There's a situation that sets Rio apart from other states, which is the fact that it is putting on the Olympics", said Moreira Franco, after attending the opening night of a Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV) seminar, in the Botafogo neighborhood located in Rio's South zone.
He blamed the federal government for part of the crisis that surfaced on the eve of the Olympic Games. "All of these years, we have watched the federal government, during Lula and Rousseff's administrations, assume commitments [for the Olympics] that were not honored", he said, having served as Minister of Civil Aviation during Dilma Rousseff's first term.
When asked if the decision to declare a state of public calamity only a few weeks before the Olympics could have negative international repercussions, Franco reiterated that the real damage would be done if problems were to arise during the Olympics.
"It would be negative to become a joke of that magnitude. We must have the greatness and courage to see the difficulties", he said.
Translated by SUGHEY RAMIREZ