Poetic Justice

Lula's recent tactic of trying to weave an alliance with
the right-wing evangelical PL party has upset many
of his own followers. It highlights the cynicism of politicians
who want the best of both worlds.

John Fitzpatrick

The great Scottish poet Robert Burns once wrote that: "The best-laid schemes o' Mice and Men gang aft agley…" For readers unfamiliar with the auld Scots tongue this means basically that you should never take anything for granted as, at any moment, your well-planned dreams could be ruined just as Burns himself had accidentally destroyed the little mouse's nest while ploughing. Brazil's politicians would have identified with Burns' "wee sleekit cowrin tim'rous beastie" this week after the Supreme Electoral Court made a ruling altering the rules on electoral alliances. Unscrupulous, immoral, hypocritical, power-hungry politicians who would link up with the devil if it suited their ends found that their room for maneuver had been drastically curtailed in this presidential election year.

The court ruled that parties which contested the elections in partnership with others could not have different partners for the presidential and state elections. The Rio de Janeiro newspaper O Globo described the decision as an "electoral earthquake," which had upset practically every political leader.

No wonder the decision came under fire immediately. Rio de Janeiro state governor Anthony Garotinho, who is a possible presidential candidate for the PSB (Partido Socialista Brasileiro—Brazilian Socialist Party), said he would challenge the ruling in the Supreme Court. Virtually every party is furious because the ruling poses a threat to the cynical alliances they have been making with strange bedfellows up and down the country.

The Workers Party's probable candidate, Lula, and the PFL's (Partido da Frente Liberal—Liberal Front Party) Roseana Sarney could be losers as they have been looking around for partners which could boost their chances and also give them more time on television for their propaganda. Lula's recent tactic of trying to weave an alliance with the right-wing evangelical PL (Partido Liberal—Liberal Party) party has upset many of his own followers. Although this controversy is not related to the ruling, which arose from a challenge made last August by the small left-wing PDT (Partido Democrático Trabalhista—Democratic Labor Party) party, it highlights the cynicism of politicians who want the best of both worlds.

There is not enough room here to enter the alphabet soup of Brazilian politics and the myriad of links but, while there are a few winners from this decision, the party which could be least affected is the PSDB (Partido da Social Democracia Brasileira—Brazilian Social Democracy Party). It has problems with members in Minas Gerais who do not want it to link up with the PMDB in the state but, overall, it has fewer conflicts than the other governing parties or the PT (Partido dos Trabalhadores—Workers Party).

However, the PSDB's anointed candidate, former health minister José Serra still has a huge fight on his hands as his poll ratings at the time of this writing are still modest while those of Sarney are rising. In one recent poll she even overtook the long-time frontrunner Lula. It remains to be seen whether this ruling really is an "electoral earthquake" and it may end up as footnote in the history books. Brazilian courts are used to jumping to politicians' commands and it would be no surprise if the Supreme Court overturned it and the electorate was once again treated with contempt. The helpless Brazilian voter who, incidentally, is forced to vote under another law which politicians will never petition the Supreme Court to overturn, can, at least, turn to another of Scotland's finest products, whisky, for some solace. While sipping a dram he should contemplate Burns' final address to the mouse:

"Still thou art blest compar'd wi' me!
The present only toucheth thee;
But och! I backward cast my e'e,
On prospects drear!
An' forward tho' I canna see,
I guess an' fear"

John Fitzpatrick is a Scottish journalist who first visited Brazil in 1987 and has lived in São Paulo since 1995. He writes on politics and finance and runs his own company, Celtic Comunicações, which specializes in editorial and translation services for Brazilian and foreign clients. You can reach him at Johnfitz@osite.com.br  

This article was originally published in Infobrazil (www.infobrazil.com), an E-zine on Brazilian culture and current events. 

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