AND Weekly editorial – Luiz Inácio, the Swindler

We publish this unofficial translation of the editorial of A Nova Democracia found here.

We conclude badly the first semester, the government of Luiz Inácio already pleaded a “ministerial reform”. Is content is simple: to reward Arthur Lira for approving the reactionary economic measures sent by the government to Congress (new expenditure ceiling, “tax reform”, etc.), reforms without which the petista would be quickly ousted from the presidential chair by the hard core of the classes local rulers and imperialism.

The acronyms of the Single Party that must integrate the government are Republicans and Progressives. The Progressives is led by Ciro Nogueira who, eight months ago, was none other than Bolsonaro’s Chief of Cabinet and coordinator of the campaign for the re-election of this human piece of thrash (Ciro Nogueira even recently stated that he will not take part in the current government, but just not to upset Bolsonaro…). The Republicans, on the other hand, are the party of none other than Hamilton Mourão, the loose-tongued general, in addition to the all-powerful Arthur Lira, in fact the prime minister of the country.

The traditional, crony and corrupt right, known by the nickname “center” and headed by Lira, already extends its claws over the structures of Caixa Econômica Federal, the National Health Foundation and the Brazilian Agency for the International Promotion of Tourism. The Ministry of Social Development, the apple of the PT’s eye, is being offered with fury to congressman André Fufuca, from the Progressist. Also on the negotiating table are the Ministry of Sport and the Ministry of Science and Technology.

It is a government handed over to the traditional right, in terms of programs and positions. Luiz Inácio today is already very different from that candidate who, in 2021, said things like: “Bolsonaro kept talking about ending the old policy. And what is the new policy? Be held hostage by the ‘center’?”, or else: “If we win [the elections], we’ll have keep the ‘center’ in line.” (2022). What a thing, isn’t it? Swindler!

Luiz Inácio prays and does everything so that, by the end of the year, the economy shows signs of small improvements, the interest rate drops further and family consumption grows a little. If that happens, he hopes to rise in popularity in the polls and escape from the pressure from power groups and political crises; meanwhile, he gives spaces in government to the traditional right, “tightens his belt”, hoping that soon the “good times” will come and everything will pass. That is why he always delegates to his ministers the task of giving anti-people news (such as the new “spending cap”, the recent cut of more than 700 million in Education and Health) always accompanied by strategically leaked news that he “did not want to”, that “Lula resisted, but gave in” etc.

However, the scenario is very difficult. The economy does not tend to improve, as its decomposition is structural and is combined with the visible decomposition and tendency towards stagnation of the imperialist world economy. In turn, reactionary measures (thus corroding the government’s popularity) will continue to impose themselves on Luiz Inácio’s agenda, to the detriment of his promises. If he seeks to maintain his popularity by postponing them, Luiz Inácio will be heavily pressured and a deposition process will be set in motion to replace him; if he goes to the end with these counter-reforms, he will lose what little credibility he still has with a certain sector of the popular masses. Hence he does what he knows best: he tries to deceive and manipulate popular public opinion.

The big truth is that those events of the 8th of January profoundly marked the current government. The High Command of the Armed Forces [translator’s note: HCAF] played their cards and allowed those events to take place to send a hard message to the government: either go ahead with the reactionary “reforms”, or your life will be a nightmare. Either Luiz Inácio gives his government an open right-wing content and form, or the HCAF will encourage and promote his deposition, preferably through the constitutional way. Yes, the generals continue to managing the country, including the current government. Luiz Inácio, like a pragmatist*, conciliates and accepts the halter, fulfilling the plans, until he will no longer be useful and will be ousted from the presidency again and, in his place, will assume an even more draconian and brutal government. This is the outcome, already known.

Note:

*Pragmatism is a reactionary philosophy, which emerged at the end of the 19th century in United States, according to which the validity of principles, doctrines, ideas, etc. it is entirely subordinated to the practical result achieved. It is an imperialist philosophy, which governs the entire psychology and method of thinking of the North American ruling classes. In politics, pragmatism drifts into utilitarianism and cronyism, seeking adaptation and survival at any cost and without principles, serving the purposes of the ruling classes.