Politics · Brazil · 1 hr ago
Lula opposed the final 1988 Constitution text, not the SUS
In 1988, Lula and most PT lawmakers opposed the Constitution’s final wording in Brazil’s National Constituent Assembly.
They said the text did not go far enough on workers’ rights, land reform, economic policy and how power was shared.
The vote was not a vote against the SUS, Brazil’s public health system, which had already been approved during the assembly’s work.
The system grew out of a broad campaign by health professionals, researchers, social movements and political groups to make health care a right for everyone.
Before the Constitution, public medical care was closely tied to social security, leaving people outside that system reliant on charity and other services.
The 1988 Constitution made health a right and a state duty, and set out the SUS’s principles, including comprehensive care and community participation.
The PT lawmakers signed the Constitution the next day, and it was formally promulgated on October 5, 1988.
Lula and most of the PT’s constituent deputies voted against the final text of Brazil’s 1988 Constitution, not against the SUS in a separate vote.
The SUS had already been approved during the Constituent Assembly’s work and was established in Articles 196 to 200 of the Constitution.
On 22 September 1988, the Constitution was approved by 474 votes to 15, with six abstentions.
The PT said it rejected the full text because it did not go far enough on issues including workers’ rights, agrarian reform and the distribution of power.
The PT deputies signed the Constitution the following day, and it was promulgated on 5 October 1988.
- Who
- Lula and most of the PT deputies in the Constituent Assembly voted against the final constitutional text.
- What
- They opposed the final text of the 1988 Constitution, not a specific vote on the SUS.
- When
- The Constitution was approved on 22 September 1988; the PT deputies signed it the following day.
- Where
- Brazil’s National Constituent Assembly.
- Why
- The PT considered the text insufficiently radical and said it fell short on issues including workers’ rights and agrarian reform.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Brazil’s 8th National Health Conference backed the principle of health as a right for all and a duty of the state.
The Constitution was approved by 474 votes to 15, with six abstentions; 15 of the PT’s 16 constituent deputies voted against it.
PT deputies signed the Constitution.
The Constitution was promulgated.
Lula explained the PT’s vote at an event marking 25 years of the Constitution.
- Approval vote
- 474 in favor, 15 against and 6 abstentions
- PT constituent deputies
- 15 voted against the final text; 1 voted in favor
- SUS provisions
- Articles 196 to 200 of the Constitution
- Promulgation
- 5 October 1988
- Health conference
- 8th National Health Conference, held in 1986
3 sources
What people are saying
We voted against because we wanted something more radical, which was not possible.
If our rules had been approved, the country would have been ungovernable, because we were tough negotiators.
We accepted the final text because the PT has always had responsibility for the country.