Former Brazil president: “Country needs union”

Former President Fernando Henrique Cardoso stated Friday that the PSDB (the Brazilian Social Democracy Party) “is feeling responsible” for Brazil. Cardoso spoke to journalists shortly after a meeting with President Michel Temer at the Alvorada presidential palace. Attended by PSDB leaders, the meeting had been scheduled before the departure of Geddel Vieira Lima, head of the government's secretariat, in the morning, but the topic ended up dominating the meeting.

Cardoso, who led the country from 1995 to 2001, in two terms of office, during which time he implemented the nation's biggest series of privatizations and faced three major global crises, said that now “the country needs union.”

Earlier today, Aécio Neves, national head of the PSDB, had backed the president in the case involving former Culture Minister Marcelo Calero's accusations against Geddel Vieira Lima. After the meeting, he talked about the pension overhaul, declaring that Temer “signaled” he would submit the bill to Congress in the first week of December.

Also at the meeting with Temer, São Paulo's mayor elect, João Dória, was asked whether the present showed concerns regarding the impact of the political negotiations with Congress members which could have been caused by Geddel's departure from the government. “He didn't seem concerned, but rather determined. He wants to carry out the reforms and he's confident he can count on the support of the PSDB for that,” he replied.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira