Edmilson Costa presents socialist presidential platform

Edmilson Costa, the presidential candidate for the Brazilian Communist Party (PCB) running alongside Cleusa Santos, has presented his government program, ‘Construir o Poder Popular, rumo ao Socialismo’. The platform focuses on the transition from capitalism to socialism through the political organization of the working class.

Key economic and labor proposals include the implementation of a 30-hour work week, the abolition of the 6x1 work schedule, and increasing the minimum wage to approximately R$ 8,000. Costa advocates for the re-nationalization of companies such as Eletrobras and the federalization of sanitation services, alongside the revocation of previous labor and pension reforms.

In terms of political structure, the program proposes the abolition of the Senate in favor of a unicameral parliament, the creation of a 100% deliberative Popular Budget, and the establishment of Popular Councils. Costa also calls for a new Constituent Assembly, elected half by popular organizations and half by universal vote. Other measures include universal free education, the expansion of health institutes like Fiocruz and Butantan, and the prohibition of betting platforms.