An urgent political reform, capable of implementing a gradual transition to Parliamentarism, was defended in an interview with senator José Sarney (PMDB-AP), who presided over the House from 2003 to 2005, the first two years of the legislature that has just finished. Sarney made a retrospective of the last four years and said that Brazil has been loosing an enormous amount of time trying to correct the difficulties of governing brought on, as he says, by the 1988 Constitution. The interview follows:

Agência Senado – How do you evaluate the legislature that has just finished?

José Sarney - It was a good legislature. We had a balance of forces in the Senate and the issues were almost always approved by agreement. We worked hard and the volume of examined issues demonstrates this.

Agência Senado – In your opinion, what were the most relevant subjects approved by the Legislative aiming the recovery of economic growth?

José Sarney – The constitutional reforms, such as the tributary and the Social Security one, as well as the Bankruptcy Law, were subjects demanded by several economic agents and are undoubtedly fundamental elements to Brazil’s growth.

Agência Senado – Why did Brazil not grow at the expected rates?

José Sarney – When I was in the Presidency of the Republic, in 1988, I called attention to the difficulties in governing, brought on by the Constitution: the unbalance between the size and obligations of the states, between the federal abilities and Union powers, the excess of issues etc. Since then, we have been losing an enormous amount of time trying to correct this. It is essential the political reform examines government form; gradually implanting Paliamentarism.

Agência Senado – Why does the government administration press for more agility from the Legislative when voting on bills?

José Sarney – That is a mistake made by the media. The criticism does not proceed. In my opinion, what happens is that we live in a furious legislature under the domain of the administration’s initiative. I believe the country fell into a trap that is difficult to solve: with all the provisional measures, it is impossible to deepen democracy and give regularity to the legislative process; without them, it is impossible to govern and take care of the urgent and important problems of the day-to-day financial administration. The solution seems clear to me: to restrict them to these issues and to public calamities. We will give the administration the attributes to exert in the fullness of its daily public administration.

Agência Senado – What scenario do you envision for the new legislature?

José Sarney- I believe we will have the chance to advance in political reforms, which are urgent, and will examine the measures necessary for the growth.

Agência Senado - Will the Acceleration Growth Programme (PAC) be easily approved by the Congress?

José Sarney – I’m sure the government and the opposition will make an agreement and will approve the PAC without any greater difficulties.

Agência Senado – Will the PAC really propitiate this long awaited economic growth?

José Sarney - It has been much time since Brazil has seen its will to grow allied to such favorable conditions. The PAC is a starting point to speed up, and to advance. The fundamental concept is that this growth comes following a reduction of inequalities, and as a result of greater social justice.