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There was no lack of emotion in the farewell of ACM Neto as mayor of Salvador, this Friday (1st). During the handover ceremony to current manager Bruno Reis, elected in 2020, Neto congratulated Bruno and looked back on his eight years in office with a sense of accomplishment. “I have never escaped my responsibility. In those years I devoted all my energy to Salvador and I did not give up, because I received that energy back. It was an honor to have governed this city,” said ACM Neto, in his speech.
The event took place in the City Hall, shortly after the installation of the current mayor, deputy mayor and elected councilors of Salvador in the City Hall, both located in the Municipal Square of the city. After the opening ceremony, ACM Neto went directly to the City Hall, where it delivered the restoration plaque of the Tomé de Souza Palace. This was his last act as mayor of Salvador. Shortly after, the act of transmission of the position of mayor began, marked by an emotional speech of about 30 minutes by ACM Neto.
“When I took office I was 33 years old, I was afraid of not doing the job well and not doing the job. I started to fight, to be the first to arrive and one of the last to leave this building. Today I can say that I did the job. The management was the flame that rekindled Salvador, the one that rescued the self-esteem of the Soteropolitans. I fulfilled each of the commitments that I assumed and by doing so I returned to the position of mayor the respect that seemed to have been lost in some corner of time, “said the former -Mayor, who was moved during the speech at least three times.
ACM Neto recalled that in the 2012 campaign, when he was elected mayor for the first time, he paid a visit to the Plastic City, was received with hostility and left there shocked by the situation of poverty and misery. “After I took office, I returned to that place many times, until the Zeferina Warriors Community was born. I do not know of a more beautiful housing project than this in all of Brazil,” said the former mayor, who said he had committed to fight for the poorest: “Today I can remember that my government has always been on the side of those who need it most.”
Coronavirus
The covid-19 pandemic, faced in the last year of ACM Neto’s mandate, did not go unnoticed in the speech. “I imagined that 2020 would be the calmest year, focused on the delivery of works and not on crisis management. Then, out of nowhere, covid-19 emerged. In 2018, I was invited to run for governor, something that is a personal dream of mine, but my conscience told me to end the term. It was the best decision I made. When the pandemic arrived, I was in the mayor’s office, alongside my team, working for my city, ”he said.
The former mayor also recalled the various actions and works delivered by the city in the last eight years, such as the increase from 18% to 57% in the coverage of primary health care, creation of the first municipal hospital, the Convention Center, HUB Salvador, BRT, reform of parks, schools, with the universalization of early childhood education and the creation of protocols to combat the pandemic. “Today there is not a single neighborhood in Salvador that has not been served by the city,” he said.
At the end of the speech, visibly moved, ACM Neto thanked God, his team, family, friends and the people of Salvador. He also recalled the political legacy left by his grandfather. Antonio Carlos Peixoto Magalhaes projected his name to Bahia and Brazil after completing a revolutionary period in the city of Salvador. It is proof that managing this city is so difficult, that when the term is well done, it serves as a rule for future jumps. I was a deputy, mayor and I intend to use my political capital to work for our country. I will not remain indifferent or silent about what I am seeing. If necessary, I will row against the current of what divides the Brazilian population into antagonistic poles. Bring a message of unity to everyone. For this, I will carry in my luggage the example of the management that ends today, with around 90% popular approval according to recent polls, “he said.
Future
Before the speech, in an interview with CORREIO, the now former mayor of the Bahian capital commented on his political future. He did not declare himself a candidate for governor of Bahia, an election that should be held in 2022, but said he intends to qualify for the elections.
“From now on, my focus is on collaborating with the party organization throughout Brazil, in preparing the project for 2022 and, of course, in my dedication to Bahia and all my involvement with the issues of the state, the interior. I will work hard, I will go through the whole state and I will qualify for 2022, so that it is something natural, that it happens in the way and at the time it has to be, “explained Neto.
The former mayor also commented on the upcoming election dispute. “We will hope that 2022 arrives without hitting anything, without going through any stage. Everything is in its time. In my case, thank God, from the experience I have, I know how to recognize the moment of things. It is not the time to start a New political campaign. This will only happen at the right time. I will not anticipate things, “he added.
Regarding the next mayor of Salvador, whom he supported during the 2020 campaign, ACM Neto stated that he is ready to carry out a good mandate. “Besides getting to know the whole city, he is totally inside the management. He has put together a beautiful team with new staff that brings spirit and perspective to the city, which is also important. In eight years we have completed a cycle. Now, if it begins a new stage, new challenges and Bruno is prepared for it, “he concluded, while considering the pandemic as the main challenge that Bruno will face.” Not only in relation to public health, but also with the pressure generated by the covid- 19 in other areas, like education and public transportation, ”he said.
Emotion
The emotion that ACM Neto felt on that first day of 2021 was also expressed on Thursday (31), on his last day in office. On the occasion, the manager decided to move his office to Subúrbio de Salvador and celebrate, amid much commotion, the changes that have occurred in the region.
“There is no better way to end work with people, to take care of them. We work every day on this final stretch to benefit everyone, ”the former mayor explained at the time. In less than four hours, ACM Neto promoted four ceremonies in the region, between inaugurations, work orders and surveys.
* With the guidance of the head of reports Jorge Gauthier.
