On Monday (11), RenovaBR held an online module of Continuing Education for Councilors 2024, addressing “Good Inspection Practices” and “Political Articulation and Alliance Building”. The classes were taught by Alessandra Lessa and Patrícia Tavares, experts who shared practical knowledge to strengthen the mandates of councilors.

Alessandra Lessa, a journalist and law graduate, with a master's degree in Communication from the Federal University of Goiás (UFG) and a doctorate from the University of Brasília (UNB), highlighted the importance of oversight as an essential pillar of parliamentary activity. She stressed that monitoring public authorities is a duty of society as a whole, with council members playing a central role in this process.

“Monitoring never ends; this capacity for oversight belongs to all of us. It is a duty granted in this democratic environment, where we build a participatory State. The councilor’s role is possible and viable precisely because we live in a democracy,” said Alessandra.

She also highlighted that the parliamentarian does not only represent the voters who elected him, but society as a whole. “As a citizen, I have sought to be served and heard by parliamentarians that I did not elect, but with whom I was able to dialogue about public issues that needed attention. Public issues have no ideology, and the mandate represents the entire community,” the journalist stressed.

She also pointed out that a public policy arises from a diagnosed social problem that needs to be included in the public agenda. According to Alessandra, “a law is not born from the individual construction of a representative, but from the composition of ideas and the collaboration of parliamentarians, public hearings and meetings with interested and qualified people”.

Political Articulation and Alliance Building

Patrícia Tavares, PhD in Administration from Fundação Getúlio Vargas-SP, believes that good political articulation requires understanding reality as it is. “When we articulate, we need to identify who we should talk to, who can support or resist the agenda, and how to overcome obstacles. We need to see reality as it is, without illusions,” she emphasized.

Patrícia also highlighted that credibility is built based on a person's trajectory, linked to their competence and their ability to deliver, which allows them to develop a reputation as a trustworthy person over time.

Furthermore, he emphasized that leadership requires the ability to listen and foster dialogue, even with those with whom one disagrees. “An essential skill for leadership is knowing how to listen. Not everyone knows how to engage in dialogue, because they have difficulty listening in order to understand. In a parliamentary environment, one must be willing to listen and engage in dialogue even with those with whom one disagrees.”

RenovaBR's Continuing Education for Councilors 2024 is part of the first stage of training for elected municipal representatives, so that they can perform their role with responsibility and knowledge. 

Monday's module highlighted that parliamentary action goes beyond the plenary and involves articulation, collaboration and defense of society's interests. Alessandra Lessa and Patrícia Tavares reinforced the commitment to oversight and dialogue as tools for democratic advancement and the solution of public problems.