“Democracy” is the slogan chosen by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to celebrate a glorious past, at a time when his rival and predecessor Jair Bolsonaro, still influential in the Brazilian political landscape, is taking advantage of the opportunity to galvanize his supporters, exacerbating tensions in an already fragile and ultra-polarized context.
“This is the day of the celebration of Brazil’s independence. It is also the right time to celebrate democracy. No country is in fact independent without the full exercise of democracy,” Lula said in a video message released on the eve of the national holiday, as the Latin American giant prepares for municipal elections next month.
“Democracy goes beyond voting on election day. It is fighting for rights. (…) It is the debate between the divergent opinions that make up society. Democracy is dialogue, it is civilized coexistence between the protagonists. It is respect for the will of the population freely expressed at the ballot box,” added the left-wing president.
“In decisive moments in history, the defense of democracy is capable of uniting long-standing adversaries. This was the case in the formation of the alliance to ensure the governability of the country, after the 2022 elections,” he said, referring to the political coalition between democrats to face the “attempted coup” on January 8, 2023, when the Three Powers Square in Brasilia, where the National Congress, the Planalto Palace and the Federal Supreme Court are located, was invaded by supporters of his rival.
More than two years after leaving power at the end of 2022, the former far-right leader has encouraged his supporters to boycott official ceremonies and called for afternoon demonstrations in the economic megacity of Sao Paulo, on Paulista Avenue, where banks, museums and places of power are lined up. And where, traditionally, large popular mobilizations take place.
“There is no point in celebrating our independence if we are deprived of our freedom,” said Bolsonaro, who had previously declared war on the Federal Supreme Court, in a climate of intense debate on freedom of expression following the suspension of X, his preferred social network.
Judge Alexandre de Moraes, a central figure in the controversy, ordered X’s suspension last week, accusing the platform of American billionaire Elon Musk of having ignored a series of court decisions related to the fight against disinformation.
And it was he who sentenced Bolsonaro last year to eight years of ineligibility for his unfounded attacks on the electronic ballot system, while he was president of the Superior Electoral Tribunal. The magistrate also leads most of the investigations targeting the former president.
The celebration of independence also comes at a difficult time for Lula’s government, which is currently rocked by a major scandal. Accused of sexual harassment by several women, including a fellow minister, Human Rights Minister Silvio Almeida, who denies everything, was dismissed on Friday night.
As Brazilians celebrate the independence they gained more than two centuries ago, the celebration is marred by growing political turbulence. The outbursts of joy fail to erase the underlying tensions that shake the country, revealing a democracy or freedom in perpetual questioning.
2024-09-07 19:12:35