New-old hand, that is, about elections in Brazil a fewer words

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won a minimum advantage over Jair Bolsonaro. photograph by Thayse Ribeiro, Flickr

In October, we had a chance to observe 1 of the most interesting political events, the presidential elections in Brazil. To the average citizen of our country or the European Union at all, it might seem that they mean small to us. But appearances frequently confuse, the past election in the largest country in Latin America was of large importance to our world.

The numbering candidates were two: applicant for re-election incumbent president, Liberal organization typical Jair Bolsonaro and erstwhile Brazilian President, associate of the Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva Working Party. Elections from the very beginning, i.e. since the announcement of candidates and the launch of the campaign, were promising for an event of unnaturally elevated temperature.

‘Brazilian Trump equivalent’

Jair Bolsonaro completed an officer's course at the Academia Militar das Agulhas Negras. He began his activity in politics from 1988 erstwhile he was elected councillor in Rio de Janeiro. 3 years later, he earned a mandate as a congressional deputy. He sat in it until 2018, erstwhile he decided to launch in the presidential election for the Socialist Party. During 1 of the election rallies in Juiz de Fora he was stabbed 3 times in the stomach. Despite hospitalization, Bolsonaro inactive won the election, defeating Fernando Hadadda in the 2nd round. Interestingly, his countercandidate was originally to be Lula da Silva, but it was prevented by the court, convicting Lula with a final sentence. The President's Office took over January 1, 2019.

Bolsonaro's views are referred to as right-wing, sometimes passing to extremes. In his statements to the media, he repeatedly expressed his approval for military dictatorships, showing his peculiar appreciation for Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet. His 1999 statements on the request to dissolve parliament and trigger civilian war in order to "pacify" the situation in the country have passed into history. He's calling for wider access to weapons. He considers himself a ‘sudden’ homophobe. During his tenure, he repeatedly met with Donald Trump, whom he admired and advocated a closer relation between Brazil and the United States.

His views on the Amazon shocked public opinion. He spoke openly about the request to destruct parts of national parks within the forest. He advocated the illegalization of organizations specified as Greenpeace or WWF. He felt that Brazil could "not afford" to respect the climate agreements of Paris and that the Amazonia had to be utilized as much as possible for economical purposes.

(No)obvious hope

Luiz Inàcio Lula da Silva was born into a working household from Pernambuco. From the early years of his life, he was active in the activities of left-wing trade unions. At the age of 11, after completing 4 grades of primary school, he began working as an unskilled worker. Union activity was at risk, as it was the times of the regulation of the military regime. In the 1980s he led, among others, a general strike of metalmakers and grew up to be a circumstantial leader of the working people. Social campaigns involving him led to a change in the power and constitution of Brazil. He has served in the parliament since 1986 for the Workers Party.

In his 5th start in 2002, he was yet elected president of Brazil. He won over 60% of the vote of citizens. He celebrated this office until 2011. During his word of office, support for Lula sometimes reached 80%, the surviving situation of many Brazilians improved significantly, but the problem of poorness or increased crime was not eliminated.

In 2014, an investigation into bribes and economical crimes committed by the highest officials and business representatives during the regulation of Lula and president Dilma Rousseff was launched. 2017 brought amazing accusations to Brazilians directed against Lula da Silva. amazingly enough, the erstwhile president was besides the leader of the 2018 polls. He was yet sentenced to 8 years and 10 months in prison. After little than 2 years, he was released from prison. In 2021 he was officially acquitted by the ultimate Court of Brazil. Lula announced his start in the 2022 election immediately afterwards. Despite the inactive advanced polling result, any Brazilians lost assurance in Lula due to his perturbation with the law.

Polarized elections

Demonstration of opponents of Jair Bolsonaro in São Paulo. photograph by Marilia Castelli/unsplash

The election run was very hot from the beginning. Both candidates threw accusations at each other. Exceptionally bearable topics were corruption affecting the highest officials and increased crime. Facilitating access to arms under Bolsonaro was clearly read by Lula as a reason for expanding the level of danger on Brazilian streets. An apparent component of the run was Lula's punishment. The incumbent president called the erstwhile head of state a criminal, a thief or a fraud. Lula rejected these accusations by presenting Bolsonaro as a fascist and a individual threatening public order. A large part of the run was besides focused on the Amazon theme. As you can imagine, we had 2 opposing positions here.

All these factors have caused a immense polarization of Brazilian society. The aggressive run has been a mess in public space. On the streets of Brazilian cities to the very end, and then after the election, there was a feeling of tension. In fresh pre-I polls, Lula had an average advantage of 10-15 percent points over Bolsonaro. In any polls the erstwhile president had already won in the first round. Eventually, there was a second clash, however, Lula da Silva did not quit and despite the melting advantage won the election in a percent ratio of 50.9 to 49.1.

Term of office another than previous

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva takes control of Brazil during a very hard period for this country. The time of sudden, widely understood improvement which took place in the first 2 terms of office has passed. The country after the pandemic, the economical crisis, the social unrest, the situation in the favelas, the war in the east of Europe, the cut-out of the Amazon are only any of the issues that the erstwhile and now the current president must face. The key to smooth governance can be to gain the electorate of the erstwhile president. However, it cannot be hidden that this will be very difficult, given the degree of polarization and the views of Jair Bolsonaro. Lula's advantage is his past. He has been heavy active in social affairs since childhood. This will be peculiarly crucial in the fight against poorness and crime in favelas. This problem was 1 of the priorities of Lula's erstwhile term, and an effective fight against it gave him broad public support. Da Silva besides announces that Amazonia will be protected much more than before. In order to fulfill this promise, he has to deal with a cutting lobby postulating further havoc.

Experience – this may be crucial to stabilising the situation in Brazil. Lula has them, the question is whether he has adequate strength, energy and ideas for new, definitely different times than 2003-2011.

Mr Filip STACHOWIC