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Eduardo Paes and Nilton Caldeira take office in a ceremony at the Rio Chamber
Published on 01/01/2021 - 16:06 | Updated on 03/01/2021 - 14:38
In his speech, the mayor mentions the publication of decrees and measures that will also help in the fight against the pandemic Photo: Beth Santos/City of Rio Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes and his deputy, Nilton Caldeira, were sworn in this Friday (January 01) in a ceremony at the City Council. In his first speech, Paes recalled that this is his third term in office, thanked every Rio resident who elected him, and announced measures that are beginning to be taken to restore the city's leading role. More than 01 decrees were published in the Official Gazette of the Municipality this Friday that will contribute to this goal. Combating the Covid-70 pandemic is a priority for the new administration.
– I would like to thank each and every one of the people from Rio who trusted me and elected me as mayor. My message also goes to those who did not vote for me. We will create a government for all the people of Rio. We will listen to all the voices of such a large and diverse city. In fact, this is the most striking characteristic of our people and one that needs and should be valued.
Paes spoke about the critical situation the city finds itself in and stated that the legacy left behind will be investigated and the result will be communicated to the population in a transparent manner.
Published decrees and combat against Covid-19
Paes also highlighted the publication of more than 70 decrees in the Municipal Official Gazette this Friday. These are measures that will allow the fulfillment of commitments in areas such as health and transportation. He also said that it is necessary to invest in education, after a year in which students in the municipal network, due to the pandemic, were practically without classes.
In the fight against Covid-19, he mentioned the creation of the Emergency Operations Center (COE Covid-19 Rio), which will operate at the headquarters of the Operations and Resilience Center (COR), in Cidade Nova, and will have, among other powers, the ability to plan actions to combat the pandemic and to implement protective measures. Paes also defended transparency in the occupation of hospital beds and said that 343 new beds will be opened in the city for the treatment of the disease.
The city's treasury needs to be replenished
The mayor recalled that he needs to replenish the city's coffers and regain Rio de Janeiro's good risk rating from international agencies:
– We will not wait one more day. Today, under my order, the Finance and Planning Secretariat has already presented a set of 44 decrees that are beginning to organize the chaos.
In the fiscal sphere, the mayor intends to send at least three proposals to the City Council, which involve adjustments to the municipal social security system, tax reforms to improve the lives of those who want to do business in Rio, and a proposal for a fiscal emergency law to de-index contracts, unlink revenues, and release expenses. Combating corruption will also be a priority for the government.
The creation of the Rio de Janeiro Public Integrity and Transparency Program – Rio Integridade – a platform for proposals for legislative, administrative and institutional reforms – is yet another measure announced by Paes to ensure transparency in management:
– Our goal is to make Rio a paradigm in the ways of doing politics and managing public affairs, a national reference in transparency, integrity and fighting corruption.
Job creation and measures to boost the economy were also mentioned in the mayor's speech, when he mentioned the new Secretariat of Economic Development, Innovation and Simplification. Paes also spoke of the importance of the city having departments such as the Secretariats for Women, People with Disabilities, Animal Protection and Youth and Community Action.
– We will create an anti-racist government. This Brazilian scourge and this debt that we all have from centuries of racism must be overcome once and for all. And we want to be an example of this – he stated.
In closing his speech, Paes recalled that he and his secretaries do not intend to manage crises, but rather to find a way out of them. He ended by quoting verses by Adilson Bispo and Zé Roberto, famously sung by Almir Guineto: “Leave aside this low mood. Raise your head, face evil. Doing so will be vital for your heart.”
