Brazil’s Supreme Court recently cleared campaign leaflets featuring former president Jair Bolsonaro, removing a legal hurdle for his allies ahead of October elections. This decision by the state apparatus arrives as crime has solidified its position as the primary concern for working Brazilians, who demand tougher approaches to gangs and security. The upcoming presidential vote, featuring an 80-year-old incumbent, highlights the persistent contradictions within the nation's political economy.
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the current president, seeks a fourth term. Born 80 years ago in Caetés, Pernambuco, Lula emerged from the working class, a former metalworker and union leader. He lost the little finger of his left hand in a press accident at 19, a stark reminder of industrial exploitation. In 1980, 46 years ago, he co-founded the Workers’ Party, or PT, after leading metalworkers’ strikes that defied the military dictatorship of the late 1970s.
From Shop Floor to State Power
Lula’s ascent to the presidency in 2002, 24 years ago, followed three prior electoral defeats. His first tenure, from 2003 to 2010, coincided with a global commodity boom, a period of intense capital accumulation for Brazil's ruling class. During this time, his administration implemented programs like Bolsa Família, raised the minimum wage in real terms, and expanded university access for the poor. Brazil also paid off its debt to the International Monetary Fund, a move that temporarily lessened the grip of international finance capital. He left office with an approval rating above 80 percent.
However, the state's legal machinery later moved against him. Judge Sérgio Moro convicted Lula 9 years ago in the Lava Jato investigation, alleging he received a beachfront apartment as a bribe. Lula spent 580 days in prison starting in April 2018, 8 years ago, which barred him from the 2018 election. The Supreme Court later annulled these convictions 5 years ago, ruling Moro had been biased, thus restoring Lula’s political rights.
Managing Capital's Contradictions
Lula returned to office on January 1, 2023, 3 years ago, after a narrow victory over Jair Bolsonaro. His comeback presidency has proven more challenging than his legendary first terms. Current approval stands at 45 percent against 51 percent disapproval, with his rejection rate nearing 50 percent, the highest among candidates. Final-week polls show him leading the first round against Flávio Bolsonaro, but a runoff remains within the margin of error.
The election narrative itself reflects the system's attempts to manage its inherent contradictions. Lula frames the race as a defense of "democracy" against a "convicted coup plotter." His opponent, Flávio Bolsonaro, counters by framing it as a referendum on an "octogenarian machine politician" who has been in public life for half a century. Neither front-runner participated in the first presidential debate, each calculating that avoiding direct confrontation served their electoral interests better. This avoidance underscores the superficiality of the electoral spectacle, which often bypasses substantive discussions on the structural issues facing the working class. The focus on "crime" as a top issue, rather than its root causes in economic inequality and state neglect, further diverts attention from the systemic underpinnings of Brazil's social unrest.