August 2020, Year XII, n. 8
Bruno Covas
The Fighter Mayor
Telos: In Italy, the Prime Minister is indicated by Parliament. However, every time there is talk of changing the Constitution and introducing the direct election of the Prime Minister, people use the expression ‘The Mayor of Italy’. This shows that Mayors have more power to impact on their citizens’ everyday life than even the Head of the Government. Does this also apply to Brazil?
Bruno Covas: In Italy, the Mayor is known as ‘Sindaco’, that is, the city's landlord. That is exactly the same comparison that I make here. Managing the city of São Paulo with more than 12 million inhabitants can be like a huge condo meeting where each person has a priority, but it is up to the Mayor to list the most essential and urgent ones, that can benefit a greater number of people and people with fewer opportunities. It is the duty of the public administrator to prioritise those who need it most, always. The proximity that the position of Mayor has with the population is fascinating since it is in this sphere of government that most of the claims flow through. But, for those who like people, like me, it is a great satisfaction ...more
Editorial
Many people find Brazil particularly fascinating, but perhaps we Italians find it even more fascinating than most. What people often forget, though, is the strong link uniting our two countries – especially between Italy and the city of São Paulo – in a long history of emigration. In the years between 1875 and 1975 roughly 1.5 million Italians emigrated to Brazil ...more
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