"Today the essence of the popular movement is the struggle for land, housing and work"

Within the framework of the forum "The New Dynamics of South-South Relations and the Challenges of Latin American Integration", held from April 22 to 25 at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Lucía Marina Dos Santos, State Representative for Rio de Janeiro from the MST, spoke with CLACSO.tv.

The congresswoman emphasized that social movements in Brazil today have two important roles: “The first is to defend institutional democracy. The democracy we have in Brazil and throughout Latin America is not perfect, it is not complete, but it must be defended. And social movements have a fundamental role in that, in popular organization, in the defense of the people, etc. The second is to take advantage of the opportunities we have right now with a more open, more democratic government, to build a people's democracy. That the people truly have spaces where they can reflect on their reality, where they can propose the political transformations that are necessary in their community.”

Referring to the region, he added: “At a general level in Latin America, I think we have a great tool that originates in Argentina, which is Pope Francis. He synthesizes the three T's, where he says that no worker can be left without land, without shelter, and without work. Today, the essence of the popular movement in Brazil, in Latin America, and in the world, is the struggle for land, shelter, and work.”

Interviewed by Gustavo Lema.