Mercadante counters Flávio: BNDES with Lula approves 78.6% more credit for SP than Bolsonaro

"Candidate Flávio Bolsonaro seems to be unaware of the complete omission of his own father's government, Jair Bolsonaro, in financing the government of the State of São Paulo and the city halls of São Paulo. Lula is the president who has done the most for São Paulo, with concrete deliveries that transform the lives of those who live in the State. The numbers speak for themselves", said Mercadante, in a note released this Sunday.

For the government of the State of São Paulo alone, R$13.7 billion was allocated, a value 4.5 times higher than the R$3 billion released during the Bolsonaro government, he reported. For the city of São Paulo, R$2.5 billion were approved, while no operation received approval in the previous administration, he explained.

According to Mercadante, in the comparison between the two governments, approvals increased in all segments in the State of São Paulo. For industry, growth was 166%; for agriculture, 31%; for commerce and services, 71%; and for infrastructure, 31%.

"In innovation, the increase was 1,092%, going from R$1.5 billion to R$18.3 billion. In 2025, R$13.1 billion were approved for exports from the State, an increase of 164% in the period from 2023 to 2025 in relation to 2019 to 2022", explained Mercadante.

For industry alone, within the Nova Indústria Brasil (NIB) program, R$120.4 billion were approved in 36.2 thousand operations in São Paulo. To modernize São Paulo's infrastructure, R$2 billion was allocated to the expansion and modernization of Congonhas Airport; R$ 10.7 billion for the duplication of Via Dutra and Rio-Santos; and R$2.96 billion to highways in the northwest of São Paulo.

Intercity Train

Mercadante reported that R$6.4 billion was approved for the government of São Paulo to build the Intercidades Train, between the capital of São Paulo and Campinas. R$6 billion was also allocated to the acquisition of 44 trains for Line 2-Green of the Metro; R$ 1.35 billion for the resumption and completion of the Rodoanel works; R$12.3 billion to Line 6-Orange; R$3.4 billion for Line 8-Diamond; and R$386 million for the construction of a new factory at the Butantan Institute.

For the City of São Paulo, R$2.5 billion were released for the acquisition of 1,300 electric buses.

"This is all because President Lula's government treats state and municipal governments in a republican manner, with a focus on improving the population's quality of life, regardless of the political position of governors and mayors. Whenever possible, we seek to build bridges and make the country's structuring projects viable," he stated.

"Unfortunately, we have not had reciprocity from some governors, who do not publicly recognize the Lula government's efforts in carrying out these partnerships. On the contrary, they sponsor a narrative of polarization typical of the extreme right around the world, which, until recently, did not exist in Brazilian politics", concluded Mercadante.

Flávio Bolsonaro promises to reduce taxes and says he will not save money on retirees

According to Flávio, the current government was responsible for increasing the tax burden and putting the Brazilian people in debt. "No one can bear paying so much tax anymore. We pay an average of 32% in tax. We pay tax to eat, drink, study, transport. If we sell or buy a house, we pay tax, if we sell or buy a car, we pay tax. How do you live in this country with this current government?", asked the senator.