Tax, Education, Agribusiness and Public Administration Reform discussed during the 13th COMANDATUBA FORUM

SAO PAULO, May 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The 13th COMANDATUBA FORUM sponsored by the LIDE - Group of Business Leaders presided by Joao Doria Jr., was held from May 1-4 in Bahia with the attendance of 320 business leaders and political authorities working from An agenda for the Development of Brazil.  The first night of the forum included a ceremony during which the Executive Directors who most contributed with important actions for development of the country were given the LIDE AWARD 2014.

Senator Aecio Neves and Eduardo Campos, former governor of Pernambuco and both candidates for President of the Republic presented their platforms during the LIDE Seminar, which also offered the participation of representatives from the worlds of policy and economics, the Campos party candidate for Vice President Marina Silva and entrepreneurs Jorge Gerdau, President of the Board of Directors of the Gerdau Group and Edson Bueno, President of the Board of Amilpar and LIDE EMPRENDEDOR.

Aecio Neves defended the district vote and the idea of reelection with a five year mandate. With the phrase "We are all Brazilians, we cannot divide Brazil into an Us vs. Them", the senator criticized changes to the macroeconomic pillars made during the second mandate of former president Lula.  In Aecio's view the next president will take over a country with serious problems, with rising inflation, low growth and a loss of credibility.

According to Joao Doria Jr., LIDE President, "Dilma's isolation is perplexing, living at a distance is difficult for Brazil ".  In his opinion the opposition represented by Aecio and Campos is a result of the country's current stagnation and hibernation.

The question of tax load was one of the few points of discord. Aecio Neves divided the matter of tax into two sections: if elected, he would create a special department appointed to present a proposal to simplify the system in the first months. After this there would be a strict control of government expenses, leading to a complete reform. Eduardo Campos on the other hand defended a reduction in the number of government departments and increasing the synergy between monetary and tax policy with a tax reform by group.

Investments in education were strongly criticized by Eduardo Campos who believes there is an apartheid in education. "The government spends trillions in energy, but only R$ 12 billion in the Fundeb". According to Campos, "We must leave behind the used clothes and start the journey", interpreted as time for a change in government.

The forum is held annually with the goal of debating economic policy, business management and social responsibility that impact the national environment.

More information:
Rose Rocha: rose-rocha@cdn.com.br +55 (11 3643-2952)