Brazil Communist Party has Sofia Manzano as presidential hopeful

The Brazilian Communist Party, or PCB, has approved teacher and economist Sofia Manzano as a presidential candidate in the 2022 elections in the country, with trade unionist Antônio Alves as her running mate. For the majority elections, no coalitions with other parties have been forged. The ceremony was held Saturday (Jul 30) in São Paulo.

Projects include the repeal of “counter-reforms and all neo-liberal legislation contrary to the interests of workers, the youth, and the poor”—which includes the Law of Fiscal Responsibility and the cap on public spending—and the creation of a Law of Social Responsibility, which ensures funding for public investment.

The tax overhaul proposed is “progressive,” taxing profits and dividends, large fortunes, inheritance money, and financial transactions, besides exempting people making up to five minimum wages a month from Income Tax. Their policy aims at “the recovery of salary losses and the minimum wage, coupled with a land reform in the field under the control of the people and the permanent combat against all forms of oppression.”

In her speech, Sofia Manzano talked about the 100-year history of the “party in the streets, exposing the evils of a failed capitalist model as it destroys both human beings and the environment.” She defended the reduction of working hours to 30 a week with no salary reduction. She also touched on some controversial issues, like the decriminalization of drugs and abortion.

“We are the only candidates arguing for the decriminalization of drugs, because the policy of war on drugs is a policy that kills and incarcerates black and young people. And we are the only candidates arguing for the legalization of abortion, because abortion in our country is only illegal and criminalized for the poor. For rich women, it is not criminalized. It is freely performed in the most luxurious private care facilities.” Antônio Alves reiterated the commitment to take the party’s word to favelas, impoverished communities, work and study places, and indigenous villages. “We will be where the people are,” he said.

Bio

Sofia Manzano was born in São Paulo on May 19, 1971. She holds a degree in economic sciences from PUC/SP, a master’s degree in economic development from the Institute of Economics at Unicamp, and a doctorate in economic history from the University of São Paulo (USP). She came first in a public examination contest to teach Economics at the State University of Southwestern Bahia (UESB), which is why she moved to Vitória da Conquista in 2013.

She conducts research on the labor market and social inequality under capitalism. Her work as an activist under the PCB began in the presidential campaign of 1989. She has also been active in unionist movements. Sofia Manzano has been a member of teachers’ unions and was elected deputy head of USP’s Association of Teachers between 2015 and 2016.