Rousseff supports press freedom at swearing-in of communication minister

During the inauguration ceremony of Minister Edinho Silva, now head of the Secretariat for Social Communication of the Presidency, President Dilma Rousseff argued for the freedom of speech and the freedom of the press, and said that such rights are regarded among the principles of her administration.

“Whoever lived under a dictatorship, as I did, and also all those in the same generation, knows how fundamental freedom of speech and freedom of the press are. We have a commitment with the right to information, protest, and criticism. We're against censorship, self-censorship, the pressures, the lobbies, and the concealed interests that may constrain the right to freedom of speech and the freedom of the press,” the president said.

The president argued that “freedom of speech and freedom of press are the exercise of the right to have an opinion, to criticize or support politicians and the government, the right to oppose and the right to voice your disagreement without consequences or repression.”

Edinho Silva is replacing journalist Thomas Traumann, who resigned last Wednesday (Mar 25). The Secretariat for Social Communication holds ministry status and is in charge of the government's communications and the distribution of funds earmarked for advertisement.

Rousseff also highlighted that the secretariat will keep up its democratic principles and values with regards to the press. “In my government, the secretariat will hold as a principle the respect of the freedom of all those who express themselves—be it on the traditional media, on the internet, in the blogosphere, on social networking sites, on the streets, or at public squares,” she declared.

The president said that the ministry is adopting “fair and appropriate criteria” in advertising government-controlled services, taking into account Brazilians from all social classes and regions. The president went on to support the role of government communication in the adjustments aimed at the country's public accounts, set to be implemented soon. “It's our duty to inform the people that we're facing a scenario that demands greater efforts in public spending, and an adjustment to prepare the country for growth as quickly as possible.”

Former São Paulo State Deputy Edinho Silva, of the ruling Workers' Party (PT), was twice elected mayor of the city of Araraquara, apart from having chaired the party in the state. Also, last year, he worked as treasurer during Rousseff's re-election campaign.

She noted that, in appointing Edinho Silva as minister of the secretariat, she took into account Edinho Silva's experience both as a mayor and as a congressman, as well as his “capacity to relate cordially and constructively with all sectors of society and the media, and his knowledge about the role of the press in society.”

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira