Panel SA: Anniversary of the strike and election year stimulate demonstrations by truck drivers

In addition to the rise in diesel, which always leads truck drivers to plan new threats to block the roads, this month the category has another reason to revive talks about strikes. On the 21st, the great stoppage of 2018 completes four years and, once again, in an election year, which adds an attractive element for political opportunism.

This Wednesday (11), the Bolsonaro government threw more fuel on the drivers’ agenda by changing the Minister of Mines and Energy.

The change was just to buy time, in the assessment of Wallace Landim, Chorão, president of Abrava (motor vehicle drivers association) and one of the main leaders of the 2018 strike. the willingness to organize a strike on the 21st and which had a favorable response.

The exchange of the minister was seen by truck drivers as a gesture by the government to stage an attempt at change in the face of the fuel price crisis. “It just buys time and pushes with the belly”, says Plínio Dias, president of the CNTRC (National Council for Road Cargo Transport).

Former Minister of Infrastructure Tarcísio de Freitas used to be touted as a skilled negotiator for discouraging truck drivers from stoppage attempts. From now on, new threats will have to be contained by Minister Marcelo Sampaio.

Joana Cunha with andressa Motter and Paulo Ricardo Martins