The Tarcísio government program did not foresee the privatization of Sabesp, the subway and the trains

The privatization of the train lines of the Companhia Paulista de Trens Metropolitanos (CPTM), the metro and the Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo (Sabesp), the main political struggle of the government of Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans), is not included in the program government which he submitted to the Supreme Electoral Court in 2022. In the document, which formalizes the guidelines for the candidate’s political project, Tarcisio specifically defended “supporting the actions of the federal government or coordinating the concession and privatization of important assets, such as the airports of Congonhas and Campo de Marte and the ports of Santos and Sao Sebastiao.

This is the only proposal on privatization that the then candidate presented, in objective terms, to voters in the government program. SABIS is not mentioned at any point in the document, and there are no studies to privatize it.

During an interview with journalists, on the third Tuesday, the day of the strike that affected millions of São Paulo residents, Tarcisio defended the proposal:

“Can’t we study whether we will get an improvement in service? It is fair that we study and we said in the campaign that we would study,” Tarcisio said.

The topic was discussed in the campaign. Then-candidate Fernando Haddad (Workers’ Party), the current finance minister, said he openly opposed privatization. Tarcisio has made speeches pointing to the potential benefits of privatization, although he has left the topic open, saying he will study the issue, without explaining how or when he intends to do so.

Four days before the first round, Tarcisio said, in an interview with the Flow program, that “privatization is the alternative and will make it better for the citizen.”

The tone was different from the one he adopted as Minister of Infrastructure under Jair Bolsonaro (PL), in February 2022. At that time, before the start of the elections, Tarcisio clearly said on the platform of TC investors: “I will privatize [a Sabesp]”.

See excerpts from Tarcisio’s government programme

– SASB, its privatization, franchising, or studies were not mentioned

Proposals on infrastructure and urban mobility

• Concessions and privatization: Supporting the actions of the Federal Government or coordinating the assignment and privatization of important assets, such as the airports of Congonhas and Campo de Marte and the ports of Santos and São Sebastião, ensuring that the interests of the State of São Paulo and São Paulo are always defended. its citizens. Regarding coastal crossings, work on individual concessions, taking into account the privacy of each crossing.
• Partnership with private initiative: Transferring assets to the private sector, the more beneficial it is for the citizen of São Paulo. Private investment will be the driving force behind generating employment and income. – Reviewing the policy of extending existing concession contracts with the aim of enabling increased investments at the expense of state grant revenues.
• Train and metro routes: Implementing routes that reach the neediest populations in the metropolitan area, with a focus on expanding the São Paulo metro lines, complementing already started lines and implementing regional trains (CPTM). Stimulating urban and economic development in these areas, in order to achieve a balance in the use of urban transportation.

The column requested advice from the governor this morning, Wednesday, April 4, but did not receive any response until this report was published. If there is a response, the content will be updated.