Presidential candidate Marçal promises to keep Bolsa Família, program he once criticized

Presidential hopeful Pablo Marçal (PRTB) has pledged to maintain the Bolsa Família social welfare program if elected, a notable departure from his previous critical stance. In his government program, officially registered with the Electoral Justice system, Marçal now promises "integral protection of life and human dignity, maintaining the Bolsa Família program." This contrasts sharply with his past characterizations of the program as "Bolsa Miséria" and his unsubstantiated claims that beneficiaries were prohibited from seeking employment.

The registration of a government program is a mandatory step for presidential candidates. However, Marçal's candidacy faces potential challenges due to his ineligibility, with his bid expected to be contested in the coming weeks. Despite this, he remains permitted to campaign.

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True social justice does not consist in creating dependency, but in ensuring that every citizen has real conditions to prosper with freedom, dignity, and autonomy.

Within his government program, Marçal reiterates his belief in fostering prosperity through entrepreneurship, a theme he emphasized during his 2024 campaign for mayor of São Paulo. The document states, "True social justice does not consist in creating dependency, but in ensuring that every citizen has real conditions to prosper with freedom, dignity, and autonomy."

Marçal explained his past use of the term "Bolsa Miséria," stating it referred to a time when the program's value was significantly lower, before the increase to R$600 under Jair Bolsonaro's administration. He argues that beneficiaries should have opportunities to transition away from dependency on the program. "What I am proposing is that people have alternatives, have assets, that we can distribute income truly, because if it's just crumbs, the person doesn't grow, they remain stuck," he stated. He also advocates for new incentive models, such as a "Bolsa Esporte" (Sports Grant) and a "Bolsa Campeão" (Champion Grant), which he believes help shape character.

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What I am proposing is that people have alternatives, have assets, that we can distribute income truly, because if it's just crumbs, the person doesn't grow, they remain stuck.