THE PT EXPERIENCE IN PORTO ALEGRE
Participatory democracy has flourished under the control of the leftist Workers Party in Porto Alegre, Brazil.
By Ricardo Tavares
Porto Alegre has become a model of participatory democracy for the Brazilian left. The Workers Party (PT) has governed this city of 1.3 million inhabitants in the south of Brazil since 1988, when Olivio Dutra, a founder of the PT in the early 1980s, was elected mayor with 33% of the vote in the first round and 65% in the second. The PT municipal administration has significantly improved the city’s quality of life.
The Orçamento Participative–the participatory budget–is the PT administration’s major innovation. The PT introduced this revolutionary municipal budget process in 1989. Popular assemblies in 16 city zones bring together 10,000 people and 600 grassroots organizations to debate and vote on municipal expenditure priorities. From a general budget of approximately $465 million, about 31% is divided up in an open, public process involving large numbers of people and interest. As a result of this process, the city’s residents decided the city should concentrate its resources on legalizing land titles, providing water and sewage to poor communities (almost 100% of households now have clean drinking water), transportation, and environmental clean-up.
Porto Alegre has been a successful example of both efficiency and popular participation. a tradition of sting urban social movements that pressured the city to democratize its public life–even during the military dictatorship (1964-1985)–is an important factor behind this success. In addition, the relationship between the party and the municipal administration–very troubled in other cities where the PT has won City Hall–has been smooth. Both Olivio Dutra and his successor Tarso Genro have respected party decisions and included representatives of all wings of the party the administration. In the City Council, although the PT and its leftist allies have only one third of the 33 seats, the administration’s policies are generally approved thanks to overwhelming citizen support. Dialogue with the business community has led to public-private cooperation, as well as business participation in setting up the legal framework for urban planning (Plano Diretor) and investment in municipal development.
The seven years of PT government have not, however, been conflict-free. For instance, a poor neighborhood near downtown Porto Alegre’s high-rise business district was improved and renovated by the administration, provoking reactions from those who preferred to see the poor removed from that area of the city. On the other hand, the clean-up of the Guaíba river, which crosses the city, was a remarkable and non-controversial success. Porto Alegre–an inland city–suddenly gained clean river beaches.
Citizens’ direct participation in the budgetary process, however, is considered the PT’s most significant achievement in Porto Alegre. In search of a fair way to distribute the administration’s financial resources, the PT has been able to secure support from both the poor and the middle classes in this city with a history of popular activism.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ricardo Tavares is a Brazilian political scientist and a consultant to non-governmental organizations.
