Lula promises to radically reverse Bolsonaro's policies

JUAN MIGUEL MUNOZ

Brasilia

In a Brasilia dressed in red, with tens of thousands of jubilant people arriving from all the states of the immense republic, Luiz Inázio Lula da Silva began his third term as president of Brazil on New Year's Day, at the age of 77 ( governed between 2003 and 2010). His goal is a return to the “happy Brazil” of his first two presidencies, a huge challenge given the circumstances.

The president promised, in his speech before 30.000 followers who packed the Plaza de los Tres Poderes, to reverse the policies of the Government of Jair Bolsonaro and apply policies against inequality, poverty and hunger. After recalling that from 2003 his governments ended misery and hunger, Lula assured, in an obvious allusion to the presidencies of Bolsonaro and his predecessor, Michel Temer: "Unfortunately, today, 20 years later, we have returned to a past that we thought was buried. Much of what we did was undone in an irresponsible and criminal manner." Lula added that his Administration will focus on equal rights for all groups, the fight against deforestation, the protection of indigenous peoples, the reindustrialization of the country and investment in health, education, science and culture.

As soon as he was sworn in, Lula announced his first decrees: restrictions on access to weapons; guarantee of the payment of 600 reais (110 euros) to 21 million poor families, and revocation of the decrees that prevent the fight against environmental crimes. A small part of the measures that he proposes to take to rebuild what, in his opinion, the Government of his predecessor has destroyed.

“It is inadmissible that the richest 5% have the same income as the remaining 95%, that six Brazilian billionaires have a wealth equivalent to the patrimony of the poorest 100 million,” Lula warned.

He did not speak of any tax reform, an urgent need in Brazil, but he did affirm that the ceiling on budget spending imposed in recent years is a "ceiling for stupidity." The hundreds of thousands of people who packed the square where the Executive, the Legislative and the Judicial branches were headquartered rabidly supported Lula's words, especially when he mentioned Dilma Rousseff, the president removed in 2016 by an impeachment process, qualified by the president suddenly". It was an emotional day. Lula cried at one point during his speech, and countless of his followers did the same at the decisive moments of his speech. "This is the most exciting moment of my life," said a woman from the poor northern state of Piaui.

Bolsonaro in Florida

Faced with Bolsonaro's refusal to comply with tradition – in no case a legal obligation – and hand over the presidential sash to his successor, the president received it from a black man, an indigenous man, a woman, a worker, a child and a woman. disabled person. “Of the Brazilian people”, summed up Lula. Since 1910, all the presidents have participated in the handover ceremony, with one exception: General João Baptista Figueriedo, the last president of the dictatorship, refused to hand over the band to Jose Sarney in 1985.

Bolsonaro left Brazil on Friday, December 30, heading to Florida. There are those who believe that he only intends to avoid the tradition of imposing the presidential sash on his successor. But some voices, the fewest, suggest that the former president fears the loss of his immunity as of January 1. Bolsonaro has only spoken twice since his electoral defeat. The first, to ask his followers to put an end to the road blockade that paralyzed hundreds of highways in the country for a few days at the beginning of November. The second, the eve of his departure, to condemn an ​​attempted terrorist attack in Brasilia, a city where one of his supporters loaded a truck full of fuel with explosives that was discovered by the police.

The security measures were severe yesterday in the access to the Plaza de los Tres Poderes and the police presence in the huge, very crowded Esplanade of the Ministries. The day before, access to the square was already prohibited, the place where Lula appeared yesterday to receive the presidential sash.
In his speeches, Lula did not mention Bolsonaro explicitly, and although he pointed out that it is necessary to look to the future, there were clear references to the far-right leader. When the president announced that the "criminal" management of the pandemic would be investigated, the crowd began chanting: "No amnesty, no amnesty."

Lula's path to the Planalto palace (headquarters of the Executive) began when he was released from prison in November 2019 after spending 580 days locked up. Although he did not expressly say so in his first act after his release, at the São Bernardo do Campo (south of São Paulo) headquarters of the metalworkers union, it was already apparent then that the former metalworkers union leader wanted political revenge against the former president Bolsonaro. It took some time to announce his presidential aspirations, but the fact is that, furthermore, the Workers' Party (PT) had few options to present a different candidate that could defeat the far-right president.

In minority in Parliament

The results of the October elections reflected this: Lula won by a scant margin of 1,8 points (51,9% compared to 49,1% for his opponent). An issue that raises serious doubts about the future leadership of the PT, lacking young leaders who can face the consolidation of the right and the extreme right, supported by an evangelical movement that does not stop growing. The fact that Lula has assured that he will not run for re-election only complicates the picture.

Lula will have little time to achieve that return to the "happy Brazil" that he promised during the campaign. The path is full of obstacles. Brazil is in a very different situation than it was in January 2003, when the former trade unionist first took office. In the last decade, Brazilian economic growth has been very weak, and the international situation cannot help strong growth. Political life will also be very difficult for the PT and its allies in a Parliament –also elected in October– in which the PT and the parties that support the new government are in the minority. Bolsonarismo promises war in Congress and the Senate. The PT can only trust Lula's experience and ability to adapt to the new situation.

Experience that he has demonstrated, together with Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, in the formation of the Government of 37 ministries that has required arduous negotiations. Finally, nine parties support an Executive in which the defeated 2018 presidential candidate, Fernando Haddad, stands out as head of the Economy portfolio; Marina Silva, former Minister of the Environment under Lula and who is now repeating in office, and Simone Tebet, Lula's rival in the first round of the October elections, and who later supported the president-elect in the second round.

Juan Miguel Munoz he is a journalist. She lives in Brazil, has also worked in Mexico and has been a correspondent in Jerusalem.

 

JUAN MIGUEL MUNOZ
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