Da plataforma eleitoral à ação de governo: a questão do superavit primário em documentos do candidato Lula (2002) e do presidente Lula (2003)

Abstract

The Brazilian Workers Party (Partido dos Trabalhadores -PT) presented, during 2002 electoral campaign on TV, a program in which it was mentioned the need of obtaining a primary surplus of the public sector (revenues less expenditures excluding interest payments). After elected, president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva raised this goal from 3,75% to 4,25% of GDP (Gross Domestic Product). He also presented a proposal, approved by Congress, that establishes a primat)' surplus equivalent to 4,25% of GDP throughout the mandate. Such actions provoked comments concerning a supposed change in the party original program proposals. This study examines the party documents and concludes that it is not correct to say that there was a change in PT positions during 2002 campaign. In fact, PT political platform has become increasingly moderate. This becomes evident with the analysis of previous studies or articles, texts and interviews with people who took part in the process. This study also emphasizes the importance of the moves made by all the political forces that compose the Workers Party in Brazil. In 1993, the "left section" took control of the party, what caused a public impression that the "moderate groups" tried to revert during the following campaigns. The electoral platform presented by Lula in 2002 is also a result of the party infernal forces rearrangement, what resulted in the preponderance of moderate sections. This study concludes that Lula' s program for 2002 electoral campaign also aimed to attract the financial market support. This was necessary because, after eight years of Fernando Henrique Cardoso's govemment, the country fiscal situation demanded a commitment of fiscal austerity. During his first administration (between 1995 and 1998), public accounts were spoilt, and this demanded a fiscal adjustment in the next period (between 1999 and 2002). The adjustment was based on the increase of the income taxes. This was the scenery Lula inherited in 2003. And that i5 the reason why president Lula proposed, during the electoral campaign, the primary surplus of the public sector, which he has been managing to accomplish since the beginning of bis mandate