[PEN-L] mst on 2nd round

Sat, 14 Oct 2006 07:39:57 -0700

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[Marxism] Brazilian landless organization: hit the streets to defeat right in second round


It is imperative to stop the right and defeat Alckmin

by Joao Pedro Stedile; October 12, 2006

We the social movements must mobilize, roll up our sleeves and go to the
streets to defeat Alckmin's candidature.

 

FROM 1990 to 2002, the dominant classes implemented a disastrous
neo-liberal programme for the economy and the people. They handed in our
best state and privately owned companies, to the financial and
international capital. Dilapidated public services. Public debt
increased disgracefully, and the government started to use 30% of the
federal budget to pay interests. People, companies and the government
started to pay the highest interest rates in the world. The result: the
economy did not grow, and there was a greater wealth concentration. The
people were left with poverty, more inequality and the highest
unemployment in history. Feeling these problems in the flesh, the people
voted against neoliberalism in 2002, and elected President Lula.

In the last four years, there was a coalition government, as Minister
Tarso Genro says, and the forces of capital continued influencing to
maintain neoliberal policies. On the other hand, the forces from the
left managed to advance in foreign policies, in the defence of state
companies and in some social areas, such as public education and the
minimum wage.

We the social movements have criticized the economic policies. The MST
has manifested and struggled against the morose process of the agrarian
reform, the priority given to the agri-business (which, in fact, voted
against the government) and the non-compliance with the national plan
for the agrarian reform.

We understand that the political context of this period has been adverse
for popular forces, due to the absence of mass protests and the
stagnation of the great majority of trade unions and movements. Some
became comfortable or had their ideological directions co-opted. Others
were massacred by the neoliberal offensive which eliminated several
sectors of the working class. There is a reflux of the mass movement,
which has influenced decisively the current correlation of power.

The time came for the 2006 elections. We defended the need to use the
campaign to debate a new popular project for the country. Unfortunately,
opportunistic and marketing views prevailed and the repetition of
spurious methods, with the abusive use of money, buying canvassers etc.
It was all extracted from companies interested in government favours.
The result was a campaign without enthusiasm, without militancy and the
interest of the people.

 

When it all seemed to have been agreed upon, and the results, predicted,
in the last week, as a consequence of several serious mistakes in Lula's
campaign, the right finds reasons to unite around Alckmin (in the same
way as it happened with Collor, in 1989)

They went for the attack, spitefully using their media, and managed to
take the election to the second turn. The same happened in several
States, where right wing candidates managed to get to the second turn of
the election.

But, as everything else in life, there are contradictions. The unity of
the right around Alckmin will provoke a debate of ideas and projects.
The campaign will clarify the class interests behind each candidate.

Alckmin represents the interests of the financial capital, transnational
corporations, Bush administration, Brazilian bourgeoisie and
agri-business farmers, which are anxious to take the reins of the
government.

Everyday in the paper they defend the need to continue privatization -
Petrobrás, Post Office, roads, banks and state companies. They want
labour, tax and welfare reforms to amplify their profits. They propose
the payment of interests within the Constitution, through an ambitious
zero deficit plan. They bring back FTAA as a need and doing that,
subordinate even more our economy and the country to the interests of
the empire.

And if the poor dare to fight, they will call the "bush dogs"
and will
offer police and jail. Therefore, we the social movements and all
militants must mobilize, roll up pour sleeves and go to the streets to
defeat Alckmin's candidature and their class interests. We cannot
hesitate. We will transform the campaign into a debate for projects and
ideas. If Alckmin wins it would be a very serious defeat for Brazilian
people.

In the next term of government Lula in office, we will continue
mobilized to defeat neoliberal policies and to debate in society a new
project for the country. Brazil needs to find its course. It needs a
project that will have as priority of the State and its policies the
solution of the main problems of the people, such as unemployment,
education, agrarian reform, housing and wealth distribution, for all.
There are no social changes without the participation of the people,
without popular mobilization.

JOÃO PEDRO STEDILE, 52, economist, it is a member of the national
coordination of the MST (Movement of Landless Rural Workers) and Via
Campesina Brazil.

 




Michael A. Lebowitz


Professor Emeritus


Economics Department


Simon Fraser University


Burnaby, B.C., Canada V5A 1S6




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