ADAPTATION OF METHODOLOGY FOR ELECTIONS OF BASIN COMMITTEES DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

Abstract

Territorial governance occurs through networks of socio-territorial power and as an example we can mention the Hydrographic Basin Committees. The decision-making processes, including the elections for entities and directors of the Committees, involve several actors who have different interests. Elections are regulated through specific legislation and, in the case of Rio Grande do Sul, through State Law 10,350/1994 and decrees. In 2020, there was the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, which made it impossible to hold a face-to-face meeting for the election of entities and the Board of Management 2020/2022 of the River Pardo River Basin Management Committee and other State Basin Committees. The state government issued decrees making it impossible to hold face-to-face meetings that involved agglomeration of people. Thus, using the free virtual tools available, the objective was to adapt the methodology of the electoral process involving the Electoral Commission of the Pardo Committee, the Management Board 2018/2020 and the State Secretariat for the Environment and Infrastructure (SEMA), through the executive secretary of the Water Resources Council (CRH). In the week of June 15th to 18th, 2020, virtual meetings for the election and inauguration of entities and board of the Pardo Management Committee 2020/2022 were held. The methodology adopted by the Pardo Committee was tested and approved, so that the other River Basin Committees in Rio Grande do Sul made adaptations and were also able to promote their elections, without prejudice to the processes that occur every two years.