Temer: Reforms are important so Brazil won't need new constitution

The Brazilian president said that the country has historically broken

Published on 17/08/2017 - 08:58 By Bruno Bocchini reports from Agência Brasil - São Paulo

São Paulo - Presidente Michel Temer participa da abertura da 18 Conferência Anual Santander (Beto Barata/PR)

President Michel Temer, speaking to investors in São PauloBeto Barata/PR

Speaking to investors on Wednesday (Aug. 16), President Michel Temer said adhering to the Constitution is key to achieving social and economic stability in the country and the reforms under way are important so the country will not need to write a new Constitution.

According to the president, the country has broken with its Constitutions at 25- or 30-year cycles and now it has a historical chance to break this pattern.

“We now have an opportunity to end these historical cycles of changing [the Constitution] every 25 or 30 years. Reforms are important and will bring Brazil into the 21st century,” he said.

The president said in order to give the country political and social stability, the dictates of the Constitution must be followed in such a way that it can still be invoked in 200 years' time.

Looking at Brazilian constitutions since 1891, Temer said the Brazilian people have an “extraordinary centralizing vocation”. “In 1930, a cycle of centralization began that lasted until 1945, with new Constitutions being introduced in 1934 and 1937. It looks as if people like it.”

“The 1964 movement [the coup d'etat that began a military dictatorship in Brazil] brought about almost absolute power centralization. Interestingly, people like that and think it's normal. So there was centralization in 1964, which worsened in 1968, when Brazil became almost an absolutist state. And it continued until 1988, when the Brazilian people decided to recreate itself and forge a new State,” the president said.

Temer also advocated a political reform currently being discussed at the lower house of Congress, but did not elaborate.

 
Translated by Mayra Borges


Fonte: Temer: Reforms are important so Brazil won't need new constitution

Edition: Fábio Massalli / José Romildo

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