If You Voted Zero Then Now Is Your Chance To Save Democracy In Brazil
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Nobody can deny that the political system in Brazil is a mess. The public currently faces a choice between two presidential candidates that many would rather not see leading the nation. On one side is Fernando Haddad, an academic representing the Worker’s Party (PT) and on the other is former military captain and current Chamber of Deputies member, Jair Bolsonaro representing the Social Liberal Party (PSL).
Nobody can change the mind of those who actively want to support Haddad or Bolsonaro in this election, but I want to send a message to the 29.12% of the Brazilian population who didn’t vote, spoiled their vote, or simply voted for ‘none of the above’ in the first round. If this is you then you have the power to change Brazil forever this weekend when the second round takes place — please consider these arguments. Your democracy depends on your choice.
Haddad represents a party that many Brazilians see as tainted forever by the jailing of former president Lula and the impeachment of his successor, president Dilma. Bolsonaro, after decades as a professional politician, presents himself as a change agent — the choice for those who want to throw a grenade into the system. The foreign media calls Bolsonaro the Brazilian Trump, yet even Donald Trump has largely operated within the existing political system by aligning himself with the US Republican Party and supporting candidates in the midterm elections next month.
The choice for Brazil is far more stark than that facing American voters. Brazil is literally facing a future without democracy. This is now a choice between different political parties and democracy, or a return to militarism. At present, democracy in Brazil only dates from 1985, when the 1964 military coup ended resulting in elections in 1989 — it remains young and fragile. For the first time since those elections there is a genuine risk of seeing democracy snuffed out in Brazil before we even celebrate the 30th anniversary of that election.
As always, the people want change. After decades of watching the glacial pace of representative democracy and the inherent corruption of a system where dozens of political parties must trade favours with each other, they are tired of politicians who do not represent their view on life and personally gain from their political office. Politicians who award themselves enormous bonuses at Christmas, travel first-class, and avoid the world of Brazilians existing on the miniscule minimum wage do not help themselves by inhabiting a different world to those they claim to represent. In fact, it is hard to create the pretence of representation when the representatives live such a different life to their constituents.
The ongoing legal investigation, Operation Car Wash, has revealed money laundering, bribes, and cash payments to political parties, senators, and corrupt behaviour between the biggest companies in Brazil, all the major political parties, and the media. In addition, the ability of the judiciary to independently manage these fundamental pillars of democracy has been severely questioned. When the judges are making politically motivated decisions that may themselves be corrupt then who judges the judiciary?
It’s easy to understand why many Brazilians want to see an end to this corruption. If the media, the judges, and the politicians are all swirling around in the same cesspit of despair then the nationalism and soundbites of Bolsonaro may seem attractive, but this would be a mistake because no matter how much you may hate the system at present, he will prevent any possibility of change.
The PT may be tainted, but their choice of Fernando Haddad represents a break with the past. In many ways the party is fortunate that President Lula has been prevented from running. Although Lula remains popular with many who support the PT, it would be harder for the party to ever claim that they are moving on to a more transparent future if he remained as leader. In his former role as Mayor of São Paulo, Haddad broke with many Brazilian political traditions, including opening the accounts of the city to the citizens paying the taxes. Imagine this implemented at a federal level?
This struggle in Brazil is representative of many similar struggles across the world as citizens tire of traditional democratic debate and demand action. Democracy moves slowly. When radicals step in and claim to be able to short circuit the system then they can win support quickly in an environment where corruption is normal or nothing ever happens quickly.
But this also subverts how most liberal democracies function. The Overton window describes the range of topics that will usually be tolerated in public discourse. Generally this means which subjects that politicians of all parties agree on, such as racism is bad, crime is bad, men and women deserve equality, and so on. But Bolsonaro doesn’t conform to what those on both the traditional left or right might consider normal. His extreme views on gender equality, homosexuality, migration, race, and authoritarianism and military rule mark him out as an outlier who would discard what has been considered normal for many decades.
In a rapidly changing world, retreating into a solipsistic nationalist view can be attractive. Building walls, expressing a hatred of migrants who steal opportunity from locals, and embracing the flag and national culture are all attractive when the world is changing so rapidly. But think for one moment about the challenges we all face today. Nuclear proliferation, mass economic migration, refugees, climate change, Artificial Intelligence redefining jobs, and rising terrorism. None of these major global challenges can be tackled by clinging to the past and singing the national anthem one more time.
People living inside liberal democracies generally feel that their government will always keep them safe. The military protects their nation from invasion. The police protect them from criminals, and their fellow citizens share a similar moral code that allows them to usually live without fear or problems. Does Brazil really want to end this by creating a nation of fear where the police are encouraged by the Bolsonaro doctrine that they must prove their value by killing more criminals? What if I’m walking down a dark street one evening and I am mistaken as a potential criminal — who will help me once I’m gunned down by a police officer just for making the mistake of walking home late at night? The fear of crime is not solved by encouraging state-sponsored crime and violence.
Brazil needs change. The existing system is not the answer, but complete destruction of our social values will not create positive change. If you did not vote because you don’t want to see the PT leading Brazil then think merely of this. You may not like Haddad now and you may not like him as president, but he will allow you the chance to speak your opinion and you will have the opportunity to vote for a new candidate soon — or even to run as a candidate yourself.
Look around the world and see where authoritarianism is really taking us. A Saudi journalist critical of his government was literally chopped into pieces in Turkey for expressing his opinion. President Trump calls media stories examining his personal business ‘fake news’, and leaders in nations such as Russia, Hungary, and Poland are actively rejecting democratic values and sweeping aside all those who criticise their behaviour. Could you really imagine a Brazil in 2018 without the freedom to complain about your leaders?
If you don’t vote then you are supporting Bolsonaro in his campaign to end the liberal, free, democratic system that exists in Brazil today. Women need to prepare for more abuse from men, LGBTQ people need to prepare for a rejection of their lifestyle and personal values, people who are not white and wealthy need to prepare for a world where they are constantly under suspicion by a police service that is now encouraged to kill first and ask questions later. The freedom to just live a life without fear will be gone for a vast section of society. The answer for the wealthy will be to build bigger walls and buy more security cameras — who wins in a nation like this?
Even if you hate the PT, even if you hate Dilma, Lula, and Haddad, you need to hold your nose and vote PT so that you have a chance to vote for the candidate you want in the next election. If you ignore your right to vote this weekend then you may never see an opportunity to vote again — the last dictatorship lasted over two decades. Do you want to wait until 2040 before you can start voting again?
In 1947 the British wartime leader, Winston Churchill, said: “No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.…” You might hate the democracy you have, but at least Brazil is still a democracy. This is your final chance to save it now. Share this message and vote now, so you can vote again.
