Brazil's Lula woos rivals (THE FALL OF BRAZIL ALERT)

BBC News ^ | October 8, 2002 | BBC News

[MadIvan]

The front-runner in Brazil's presidential election has said he wants to "widen [his] alliances" ahead of the final round of the poll.

Despite winning nearly twice as many votes as his nearest opponent in the first round on Sunday, left-wing candidate Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva still remained short of an absolute majority to win outright.

He said he would seek the support of those opposed to the country's current, free-market economic model to win the second round.

All power to the Soviets! Workers control the means of production! Someone needs to tell Lula this went out of style over 10 years ago - Ivan

His remaining challenger, Jose Serra, has promised to continue President Henrique Cardoso's policies.

Correspondents say the outcome of the run-off on 27 October is far from certain despite Mr da Silva's substantial lead.

But the two presidential candidates eliminated from the first round of the vote both, like Mr da Silva, hailed from centre-left or leftist parties.

'Delayed victory'

With 98.3% of the ballots counted, Mr da Silva had won 46.4% of the vote, trailed by Serra with 23.2%.

At a news conference in Sao Paolo, the former metalworker and trade union activist universally known as Lula, hailed the outcome.

"We are going to win the election, it was only delayed a bit," Mr da Silva said.

"This was a historic vote and I wish to thank the millions of Brazilians who voted to give the Workers' Party their greatest victory ever."

He added that the Brazilians had voted to turn away from "one economic model" to another.

And to go from out of the frying pan of austerity into the fire of socialism. Nice choice, Brazil - Ivan

But his opponent was also upbeat about his chances.

"Today is better than yesterday, Mr Serra said. "And tomorrow will be better than today."

Not if Lula wins. - Ivan

Both men have begun wooing their defeated rivals.

"We are going to reach out to all the men and women that voted for the opposition and try to conquer them, but with a lot of affection," the front-runner said. "We are now seeking to widen our alliances."

Mr da Silva has made it through to the second round before, only to fail to win the presidency, but he has not had such high levels of first-round support before.

Correspondents say the run-off will be closer, as Mr Serra will be able to concentrate solely on attacking Mr da Silva and his policies rather than worrying about the other two candidates who were vying for second place.

Markets troubled

Few analysts are predicting that Mr da Silva will lose a second round, but none are prepared to rule it out either.

The result of the presidential election is seen as crucial, as it is widely believed that it could dramatically change the political direction of Latin America's biggest country and have repercussions far beyond the region.

If Mr da Silva is victorious, he would become Brazil's first elected leftist leader.

Brazil has seen its currency plunge amid investors' worries over Mr da Silva's ability to run the economy, and concern has grown that the country might default on its $260bn debt.

On Monday, the first-round winner said it was up to President Cardoso to ease any uncertainties.

Mr da Silva has toned down his left-wing rhetoric, stressing that he would respect international agreements and stick to stable economic policies.

And the Bolsheviks said they would hold free elections in 1917... - Ivan

Sunday's vote was also to elect the state governors, who wield considerable power, and senators and deputies to the federal congress where no party is likely to achieve a majority. State deputies were also elected.

[MadIvan]

Brazil appears to be caught in a time warp - this was the picture that went with this article:

The red star, masses on the streets - looks like Sergei Eisenstein's "October". And let's remember how well the Russian Revolution turned out.

Bad idea, Brazil. Bad, bad idea.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Bump!

[fieldmarshaldj]

Paging Augusto Pinochet, paging Augusto Pinochet, your services are needed over in Brazil...

[MadIvan]

Indeed, it should be made clear to the Brazilian military that a fall into communism will not be tolerated.

Regards, Ivan

[bybybill]

This is not a good thing

[fieldmarshaldj]

Yup. Ordinarily in a "free" society, one would have to swallow hard and allow a "democratically" elected leftist government take office and hope to get them out next time around, but with Communists, the concept of "democracy" goes straight out the window with their elections. Once in power, a revolution is required to usher them out. I'm afraid for this one that a military coup d'etat is the only logical solution, sad to say. Sometimes people have to be saved from their own ignorance.

[Texas_Jarhead]

"Indeed, it should be made clear to the Brazilian military that a fall into communism will not be tolerated."

I'm afraid there are few that would speak out loudly and even fewer who still recognize the evil of communism.

[driftless]

I can imagine that De Silva appeals to certain elements of Brazilian society who mirror the freeloaders and dissatisfied types in America and Europe. They want something for nothing. I suppose his pitches to the non-producers goes like this. "Hey look at all those rich people. They don't deserve to have all that money. They must not have worked for it. Let's take it from them. We'll all be better off." And another country forgets history and reaps the rewards of ignorance.

[MadIvan]

Well let's remember what happened when Lenin allowed elections to the Constituent Assembly in Russia. When the Bolsheviks lost, he merely shut it down. The far left's lip service to democracy only extends so far so long as the result of the election is certain.

Regards, Ivan

[fieldmarshaldj]

Just like the New Jersey Supreme Court with the Torricelli Senate race.

[MadIvan]

Just like the New Jersey Supreme Court with the Torricelli Senate race.

Quite. Except the Bolsheviks were apparently brave enough to engage in armed combat with the Whites. The same cannot be said of the Bolsheviks in the Democrat Party.

Regards, Ivan

[bert]

.... a revolution is required to usher them out....

This statement cuts both ways. Perhaps the current election is in fact a revolution ushering out the corrupt oligarchs in control of Brazil.

[fieldmarshaldj]

But you don't go and replace Bob Torricelli with Pol Pot, now do you ? With communist governments, it's like spilling red wine on a white shirt -- once it happens, it's going to be a bitch to get it out (and even if you do, the shirt ain't never going to be the same).

[Free the USA]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[Mr. Silverback]

I wonder if it's as hard to dig mass graves in the jungle as it is in Siberia...The ground's softer, but there are so many roots...

I thought that Communism would survive in the 21st century by using the China deception: Pretend you're actually capitalists and pretend that you are willing to engage in social reforms. Apparently I was quite wrong. These folks are being told exactly what they're getting and they could care less that the system they're embracing has killed at least 100 million innocent people since the Bolsheviks took power in Russia.

[Tailgunner Joe]

A New Axis of Evil

The Southern Threat

Voice of America Mute as Brazil Awaits 'Revenge of the Sandinistas'

The Brazilian 2002 Elections:
A Stacked Deck?

Jesse Jackson compares Brazil candidate to Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela

Beware the Looming Threat From the South

Lula: Is He Going To Have Brazil Go For Broke

[DoctorMichael]

Jesse Jackson compares Brazil candidate to Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela

What a kiss-a$$ SOB!