Brazil: Is social democracy the solution for the people?

By Nikos Mottas.

After four years of far-right Bolsonaro government, the old known social democracy is back in Brazil. Lula da Silva's electoral victory consists the culmination of social democracy's recent resurgence in Latin America, following the rise of Lopez Obrador in Mexico, Gabriel Boric in Chile and Gustavo Petro in Colombia.

Once again, opportunist left-wing forces will celebrate the victory of Lula da Silva, presenting it as a political triumph that will allegedly bring positive developments for the Brazilian working class and the popular strata. Without doubt, Bolsonaro's defeat would be positive news, but the major question that arises is the following: Does social democracy provide a real alternative solution to the dominance of the capital in Brazil? 

Brazil's communists call for broad electoral democratic front against Bolsonaro

A broad electoral democratic front against the fascist presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro is in the making in Brazil, after the results of the first round and two weeks before the second round on October 28th. 

In the first round, the far-right Bolsonaro received 46% of the votes while the candidate of the social democratic Workers' Party (PT) Fernando Haddad got 29.3%.

In a statement, the Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB)- the leader of which, Manuela D'Ávila is Haddad's vice presidential candidate- calls for broad support towards Haddad on the basis of the unity of the left forces. More specifically, the statement of the Communist Party's National Political Commission writes:

PT-PCdoB coalition in Brazil: Be aware of social democracy bearing gifts, comrades!

By Nikos Mottas.

In a highly controversial decision, which may have negative effects for the country's working class movement in the long term, the Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB) agreed to participate in an electoral coalition with the social democratic Workers' Party (PT). 

The alliance between PCdoB and PT came as a result of the effort to create a broader alliance between "left forces" against the conservative and right-wing forces. More specifically, according to a statement issued by the Communist Party (PCdoB) "the coalition between PCdoB and PT has emerged as the possible and important alliance to build the victory of progressive forces in view of the strong orchestration of the conservative and coup forces."