Opinion – Nelson Barbosa: It’s Lula again with the strength of the people

The time has come. Every four years we meet to decide the Brazil we want.

It wasn’t always like that. Considering our recent history, we had a military dictatorship for 21 years, a period that ended in the biggest economic crisis in our history, from which we have not yet fully recovered.

On the political and social side, the tragedy of 1964-84 was even greater, with institutional setbacks, including torture and the death of opponents of the military regime. In order not to forget that period of darkness, I recommend the book “Brasil: Não Mais”, with a preface by d. Paulo Evaristo Arns.

In theory, we have had free elections since 1989. In practice, the economic power of Brazil’s richest groups has thrown the process off balance on several occasions. I know the same thing happens in other Western democracies, but I think the issue is more serious here. I give two examples.

First, in 1989, there was clear manipulation by the media against Lula’s candidacy, an error later recognized by whoever ran the news for the country’s main communication group at that time.

Second, in 2018, the usual campaign against the PT turned into a movement against free elections for fear that Lula would return to power through the vote.

In a clearly irregular process for anyone who wanted to see, Lula was arrested and prevented from running for president in 2018. Four years later, the Federal Supreme Court, the UN Human Rights Committee and several eminent national and international jurists agree that the arrest of Lula was irregular and therefore the 2018 election was censored.

Today, only silly ducks and clueless ducks still believe in the Lava Jato farce, but let’s continue, because on Sunday (30) we will have another crucial vote.

Brazil improved during PT governments. Just look at the numbers. I say this knowing the magnitude of the 2014-16 crisis, partially created by the sabotage of the PT government. Six years on, the numbers also show that Operation Car Wash and the parliamentary coup against Dilma deepened and prolonged the 2014-16 recession.

Were there economic policy mistakes by the PT? Yes, most of them already recognized by the PT itself. But there was also the “old coup matrix” of Brazilian elites, which sponsored the 1964 military coup, the 2016 parliamentary coup and the 2018 censored election.

Fortunately, today part of the 2016-18 coup plotters changed their minds and votes for Lula. They recognized the mistake of supporting an extreme right-wing movement that puts Brazil’s young democracy at risk. As I have already written in this space, I hope that the current outbreak of common sense is eternal while it lasts.

For those who have always been on the right side of history, Sunday’s choice remains as easy as it was in 2018: Lula 13 vote because he has always respected democracy, ensuring compliance with the majority decision with respect to minority rights.

I vote Lula 13 because he respects press freedom while fighting the spread of fake news within the “four lines” of the Constitution.

I vote Lula 13 because he guarantees the political and legal rights of all of us, including his fiercest opponents.

And, in terms of the economy, even if the PT falls into the financial market’s tale again, I vote for Lula 13 because he will end up ruling for the majority of the Brazilian population, always concerned with improving the lives of the poorest and generating good jobs for all.

Good vote on Sunday and, again, avoid falling for the provocations of crazy Bolsonaristas, because they want to mess up the election.