In this city of São Paulo, where the tropics pass, the day dawned unusually cold: barely 11 degrees, wind and drizzle. But the Anhangabaú Valley, in the heart of the old center of the São Paulo capital and a place wider and longer than the Plaza de Mayo, was filled with citizens with various banners, enthusiastic chants and almost a single slogan: Lula there, that is to say in Brasilia. This Saturday was the first official act of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva Y his vice Geraldo Alckmin in the great Brazilian metropolisthe largest electoral district in the country, in search of the vote of the middle class and “in defense of democracy”.
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Along with them were the leaders of the ten political parties in the coalition; a political arc that transits from the left to the moderate center-right. It is a political rainbow without equal in these elections; Jair Bolsonaro, who is seeking his re-election and is the main opponent of the PT, managed to bring together just three groups (including his, the Liberal Party).
As soon as the atmosphere became warmer, due to the intonation of the slogans and the militant emotion, several leaders gave their messages: the candidate for governor of San Pablo Fernando Haddad (of the PT), who today leads the polls; the representatives of the different political forces and even former president Dilma Rousseff, applauded by her supporters. Towards the end, it was Alckmin’s turn to speak at the big rally. Social democrat and supporter of former president Fernando Henrique Cardoso, this year he joined the Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB) to run for vice president. The former governor of São Paulo took up the explanatory lines of his speech, to tell why he had gone from being an old “adversary” to a new ally and “companion” of former President Lula. He said: “It is essential to defend our democracy, which is at risk.” And for that, he indicated, an extensive front is necessary to prevent the progression of authoritarianism. Lula had a special gesture for those who accompanied him in these elections: he got up from his chair as Alckmin spoke, went over to him and hugged him.
Ex-president fez comício em SP with allies. Haddad, Alckmin and Dilma will participate. #g1
— g1 (@g1) August 20, 2022
For the leader of the Workers’ Party, the socialist politician has an effective role to play in a future third term. He will not only be vice but he will be in charge of a ministry. The former governor is, in fact, a representative of the former leadership of the PSDB, the one that governed the state of São Paulo for more than 20 years and that competed with the PT in the presidential elections from 1995 onwards. In fact, it was not by chance that they chose the Valley in the center of São Paulo to carry out the act; that place has a great symbolism because there, in April 1984, there was a great demonstration in favor of the elections “Direct now”. That movement brought about the end of the military dictatorship, which would formally disappear a year later. Still, the Electoral College survived until 1989, with the election of Collor de Mello.
Already at the end, when it was time for him to speak, Lula da Silva emphasized questioning Bolsonaro’s use of religious beliefs and churches. “There are demons who believe they are God, and honest and good people who are called devils. There are people who are not interested in the church to take care of spirituality. They are those who turn churches into political boxes or companies to make money.” The addressee of the message was very clear, but the PT leader failed to call him by name and surname: “The churches have to take care of spirituality and not of the candidacies, false prophets or Pharisees who deceive the people.”
In between, a series of jingles were presented that will be broadcast on TV and radio starting next Monday. One of them begins with one of the great slogans of this campaign: “Without fear of being happy”. In another video, Lula appears with great world figures, from Pope Francis to former President Barack Obama.
What dominates this campaign, unlike others, are the gestures and sayings that clearly point to emotional impact. That is precisely why this morning, from the box they sang: “Lula has been winning; Chuchuca is leaving.” It is the new name with which he was baptized Bolsonaro, after a young influencer from You-Tube, called it live and direct “tchuchuca do centrao”, which translated would be equivalent to “la queridita del centron”.
DC
Lula takes to the streets with Alckmin and seeks to strengthen the vote of the middle class