Brazil:Left versus Right

The Brazilian election race draws into its final lap, with the left-wing candidate Lula leading the right-wing Serra by 11 points.

Luis Inacio da Silva, leader of the Partido dos Trabalhadores (Labour) saw his rating increase from 26 to 30%, according to the Instituto Vox Populi. This gives great hope to the political left in Brazil, who now for the first time have the chance to win the election and start to address the grave social, economic and political situation of the country, one in which 40 million Brazilians live in a state of permanent social exclusion, below the poverty line.

After decades in power, right-wing cliques continue to proclaim that only they have the solutions for the country’s considerable number of ills, ailments of their own making and perpetrated by the moneyed 5% who own 95% of the country’s vast resources. Among these is the main right-wing candidate for October’s Presidential election, Jose Serra, who appears firmly in second place, with 19% of the opinion poll.

His discourse is a curious one, in which he claims that Brazil is not a financial, social or economic paradise, but stability has been achieved and only by keeping the same direction can the country progress. This despite the fact that in the social sphere, absolutely nothing has been achieved, despite investments which only too often land in the pockets of the oligarchic ruling class, wholly removed from the reality of the country in their comfortable fortress in Brasilia.

Serra has the support of the business community, as it is to be expected, especially since these have everything to lose with a government which will divert funds for real social causes. Among these supporters is the President of the National Confederation of Commerce, Antonio Oliveira Santos, who proclaims that continuity will be best for the growth of trade, but then admits that he is a personal friend of Jose Serra’s.

Despite the attempts from right-wing parties to link Lula to radicalism, especially after elements of the Movimento dos Sem Terra (the Landless Movement) invaded the President’s farm, Lula hotly denies this as being electioneering engineering. Nothing would be beyond the government formation as it desperately strives to cling to the reins of power.

Lula presents himself as a man of great political experience, ready to lead the country forward as a champion of the people, but also of Brazilian industry, being aware that he needs a broad base of support for his important project to be successful.

Marcia MIRANDA PRAVDA.Ru BRAZIL