Hamilton Assis
{{Short description|Brazilian politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Hamilton Assis
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1963|01|19}}
| occupation = Politician, teacher, and social movement leader
| party = PT (1982-2005)
PSOL (2005-present)
| image = Hamilton Assis vota 50, eleições 2012 (cropped2).jpg
}}
Hamilton Moreira de Assis (born January 19, 1963), known as Hamilton Assis, is a Brazilian labor leader, left-wing activist, teacher, and politician from Salvador, Bahia. A former director of the Central Única dos Trabalhadores (CUT) in Bahia, he has run for office several times as a member of the Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL), most recently in 2018 where he stood as an unsuccessful candidate for the party's presidential nomination.{{Cite web|last1=de 2018|first1=Rogério DaflonRogério Daflon9 de Março|last2=22h36|title=A guerra pelo PSOL: uma reunião com o petista Tarso Genro desencadeou o inferno|url=https://theintercept.com/2018/03/09/guerra-psol-reuniao-petista-tarso-genro-desencadeou-o-inferno/|access-date=2021-02-24|website=The Intercept Brasil|date=9 March 2018 |language=pt}} Over the course of his career, Assis has held positions in the Bahia chapters of both PSOL and the Workers' Party (PT).
Biography
= Early life and political activity =
Born in the neighborhood of Pau Miúdo in 1963, Assis spent his childhood in the neighborhood of Pau da Lima in Salvador, Bahia. He became politically active in the Ecclesial Base Communities and was involved in neighborhood associations in Salvador in the early 1980s. In 1982, he joined the newly-formed Workers' Party (PT),{{Cite web|last=Rego|first=Rafaele|date=2012-08-21|title=Veja as propostas de Hamilton Assis (PSOL) para Salvador|url=https://www.ibahia.com/detalhe/noticia/veja-as-propostas-de-hamilton-assis-psol-para-salvador/|access-date=2021-02-25|website=iBahia|language=pt-BR}} and occupied positions in the party's state leadership in Bahia. During this period, Assis was also involved in the Bahian Black Movement. Assist served as director of the Central Única dos Trabalhadores, the country's primary labor organization, in Bahia between 1993 and 1996.{{Cite web|title=Hamilton Assis|url=https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Public-Figure/Hamiltonassispsol/about/|access-date=2021-02-24|website=www.facebook.com|language=en}}
In 2005, Hamilton Assis participated in the founding of the Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL),{{Cite web|title=PSOL50|url=https://psol50.org.br/comite-de-defesa-da-previdencia-e-lancado-na-assembleia-da-bahia/}} a left-wing party created by PT dissidents. From 2006 to 2007, Assis served at the helm of the PSOL state director in Bahia. In 2010, he became leader of the PSOL's municipal branch in Salvador.{{Cite web|title=PSOL elege Hamilton Assis presidente em congresso em Salvador {{!}} Política Livre|url=https://politicalivre.com.br/2010/06/psol-elege-hamilton-assis-presidente-em-congresso-em-salvador/|access-date=2021-02-24|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Line|first=A. TARDE On|title=Com fim das coligações na eleição proporcional, partidos apostam em candidaturas coletivas|url=http://www.atarde.com.br/politica/eleicoes/noticias/2134778-com-fim-das-coligacoes-na-eleicao-proporcional-partidos-apostam-em-candidaturas-coletivas|access-date=2021-04-09|website=Portal A TARDE|language=pt-br}}
= 2010 vice presidential candidacy and aftermath =
In 2010, he was chosen by former federal deputy Plínio de Arruda Sampaio to serve as his vice presidential running mate on the PSOL slate that year.{{Cite web|last=Já|first=Bahia|title=BAIANO HAMILTON ASSIS É VICE NA CHAPA DE PLÍNIO SAMPAIO, DO PSOL|url=http://bahiaja.com.br/politica/noticia/2010/07/01/baiano-hamilton-assis-e-vice-na-chapa-de-plinio-sampaio-do-psol,25729,0.html|access-date=2021-02-24|website=Bahia Já|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Serei mais duro do que Plínio no debate, diz vice do PSOL - Band.com.br|url=https://entretenimento.band.uol.com.br/aquinaband/noticias/100000347801/serei-mais-duro-do-que-plinio-no-debate-diz-vice-do-psol|access-date=2021-02-25|website=Aqui na Band|language=pt-br}} As a vice presidential candidate, Assis criticized Marina Silva, then a leading presidential candidate, by accusing her of inconsistency.{{Cite web|title=Marina Silva não é|url=https://entretenimento.band.uol.com.br/aquinaband/noticias/100000347810/marina-silva-nao-e-tao-coerente-afirma-hamilton-assis|access-date=2021-02-24|website=Aqui na Band|language=pt-br}}
Assis also criticized the media for largely ignoring the candidacy of Arruda Sampaio. Speaking in praise of Arruda Sampaio, Assis stated that there "is a tendency to treat Plínio as an exotic figure, in addition to people perceiving a prejudice against older people as well... But anyone who pays attention to what he says will realize that he is a brave man, full of political qualities and with the necessary vigor to promote great changes in Brazil".{{Cite web|date=2010-09-14|title=Hamilton Assis, vice de Plínio Sampaio: "o caminho está na esquerda"|url=https://www.sul21.com.br/noticias/2010/09/hamilton-assis-vice-de-plinio-sampaio-o-caminho-esta-na-esquerda/|access-date=2021-02-24|website=Sul 21|language=pt-BR}}
During the vice presidential debate, Assis denounced institutional racism in Brazil and stated that the Pacifying Police Units (UPP) in Rio de Janeiro have brought "terror to the well-being of communities". Additionally, Assis spoke out in favor of expanding and protecting abortion rights.{{Cite web|date=2010-09-17|title=Hamilton Assis encurrala adversários em debate|url=https://psol50sp.org.br/2010/09/hamilton-assis-encurrala-adversarios-em-debate/|access-date=2021-02-25|website=PSOL SP|language=pt-BR}}
= 2012 mayoral candidacy and aftermath =
File:Hamilton Assis em campanha eleitoral (cropped).jpg.]]
In 2012, Assis mounted a campaign for Mayor of Salvador in an alliance with the PCB and PSTU, and received 33,650 votes.{{Cite web|title=Frase do dia: Hamilton Assis|url=https://www.acordacidade.com.br/noticias/92400/frase-do-dia-hamilton-assis.html|access-date=2021-02-25|website=Acorda Cidade - Dilton Coutinho|date=2 July 2012 |language=pt-br}}{{Cite web|last=Line|first=A. TARDE On|title=Psol faz críticas à escolha de vices negros|url=http://www.atarde.com.br/politica/eleicoes/noticias/1296312-psol-faz-criticas-a-escolha-de-vices-negros|access-date=2021-02-25|website=Portal A TARDE|language=pt-br}} During the campaign, he prioritized renewing urban infrastructure.{{Cite web|last=BA|first=Do G1|date=2012-09-21|title=Candidato Hamilton Assis fala ao jornal Bahia Meio Dia|url=http://g1.globo.com/bahia/eleicoes/2012/noticia/2012/09/candidato-hamilton-assis-fala-ao-bahia-meio-dia.html|access-date=2021-02-25|website=Eleições 2012 na Bahia|language=pt-br}} He did not support a candidate in the second round of the election.{{Cite web|last=BA|first=Do G1|date=2012-10-11|title=Hamilton Assis não irá apoiar candidatos ao 2° turno em Salvador|url=http://g1.globo.com/bahia/eleicoes/2012/noticia/2012/10/hamilton-assis-nao-ira-apoiar-candidatos-ao-2-turno-em-salvador.html|access-date=2021-02-24|website=Eleições 2012 na Bahia|language=pt-br}} According to Jornal A Tarde, Assis and PSOL were harmed in the election by only pledging to take individual contributions, thereby limiting their fundraising ability. While Assis lost, his campaign in 2012 coincided with the election of the first-ever PSOL alderman on the City Council of Salvador, Hilton Coelho.{{Cite web|title=Política - 'Minha pretensão é ser vereador', diz Hamilton Assis - 02/11/2015|url=https://www.bnews.com.br/noticias/principal/politica/128016,039minha-pretensao-e-ser-vereador039-diz-hamilton-assis.html|access-date=2021-02-25|website=BNews|date=2 November 2015 |language=pt-br}}
In 2014, he mounted a campaign to serve as Senator for Bahia.{{Cite web|last=BA|first=Do G1|date=2014-10-03|title=Conheça os candidatos da Bahia ao Senado e quais são as atribuições|url=http://g1.globo.com/bahia/eleicoes/2014/noticia/2014/10/conheca-os-candidatos-da-bahia-ao-senado-e-quais-sao-atribuicoes.html|access-date=2021-02-24|website=Eleições 2014 na Bahia|language=pt-br}} During his senatorial campaign, Assis endorsed abortion legalization, the decriminalization of some drugs, the creation of a unicameral federal legislature, and the public financing of elections. Additionally, he endorsed quotas for Afro-Brazilians to advance racial equality and opposed lowering the age of criminal responsibility.{{Cite web|last=Belas|first=Evilásio Júnior/ Luana Ribeiro/ Rodrigo Aguiar {{!}} Fotos: Júlia|title=Hamilton Assis|url=https://www.bahianoticias.com.br/entrevista/359-hamilton-assis.html|access-date=2021-02-25|website=www.bahianoticias.com.br|date=26 May 2014 |language=pt-br}}
In 2016, Assis stood for a seat on the City Council of Salvador.{{Cite web|title=Hamilton Assis 50500 PSOL (Vereador) Salvador - Guia Eleições 2016|url=https://especiais.gazetadopovo.com.br/eleicoes/2016/salvador-ba/vereador/hamilton-assis-50500/|access-date=2021-02-25|website=Guia dos Candidatos|language=pt-BR}} He had considered running for the mayoralty again, but PSOL instead chose to nominate Bahia State University professor Fábio Nogueira.{{Cite web|last=www.novoeste.com|first=Novoeste com-|title=Durante desfile do 2 de Julho, Fábio Nogueira recebe apoio da população de Salvador {{!}} Notícias Destaque {{!}} Novoeste on-line - Onde o Oeste da Bahia é Notícia|url=http://www.novoeste.com/index.php?page=destaque&op=readNews&id=23122&title=Durante-desfile-do-2-de-Julho-Fabio-Nogueira-recebe-apoio-da-populacao-de-Salvador|access-date=2021-02-25|website=www.novoeste.com}}
Assis was a strong critic of Michel Temer during his presidency, accusing Temer of trying to push through a pension reform plan to remove workers' rights. Assis stated that the government is "proposing an increase in the contribution ceiling for 45 years and the age of 65. If this equation confirms, no worker will be able to retire in this country and we will see a situation analogous to slavery. The enslaved workers worked until they died!"{{Cite web|date=2017-04-29|title=Durante Greve Geral, PSOL Bahia pede 'Fora Temer!'|url=https://www.jornalgrandebahia.com.br/2017/04/durante-greve-geral-psol-bahia-pede-fora-temer/|access-date=2021-02-24|website=Jornal Grande Bahia (JGB)|language=pt-BR}}
= 2018 presidential candidacy =
In 2018, Hamilton Assis chose to run for the presidency,{{Cite web|title=PSOL lança Guilherme Boulos como pré-candidato a presidente da República|url=https://g1.globo.com/sp/sao-paulo/noticia/psol-lanca-guilherme-boulos-como-pre-candidato-a-presidente-da-republica.ghtml|access-date=2021-02-24|website=G1|date=10 March 2018 |language=pt-br}} though PSOL ended up nominated Guilherme Boulos instead.{{Cite web|title=PSOL50|url=https://www.psol50.org.br/psol-realiza-debate-entre-pre-candidaturas-a-presidencia-nesta-quarta-7-no-rio/}} Assis criticized the party's leadership for perceived unfair treatment in favor of Boulos at the expense of internal democracy, and stated that PSOL should be built "from scratch" to keep it in touch with social movements.{{Cite web|title=Hamilton Assis: 'Construir o PSOL de raiz, contra a Casa Grande|url=https://esquerdaonline.com.br/2018/03/09/hamilton-assis-construir-o-psol-de-raiz-contra-casa-grande/|access-date=2021-02-24|website=Esquerda Online|date=9 March 2018 |language=pt-BR}} At the party convention, Assis received seven votes in favor of his nomination, compared to 87 for Boulos and 27 for Plínio de Arruda Sampaio Jr., the son of the late Arruda Sampaio.{{Cite news|date=2018-03-10|title=PSOL oficializa pré-candidatura de líder dos sem-teto à Presidência|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/politica-psol-boulosoficial-idBRKBN1GM0S1-OBRDN|access-date=2021-02-24}}
Personal life
Assis is a teacher at the municipal education system in Salvador, where he works as a pedagogical coordinator, and holds a master's degree in education. Assis is married to Meire Reis, a feminist activist.{{Cite web|title=Eleições - Esposa de Hamilton Assis "pega ar" com Adelson Carvalho - 01/10/2012|url=https://www.bnews.com.br/noticias/politica/eleicoes-2018/44512,esposa-de-hamilton-assis-quotpega-arquot-com-adelson-carvalho.html|access-date=2021-02-24|website=BNews|date=October 2012 |language=pt-br}}