Brazilian Congress

Here in Brazil there is a very common expression in the political, journalistic and academic world respect to the ability of certain elites have to continue in power. The term is “Owners of the Power”.

Since Brazil was a Portuguese colony they remain in power. These elites were responsible for the Brazil’s Independence in 1822 (Portugal was holding the local economic interests of the bourgeoisie). Were also responsible for the abolition of slavery (in 1888 when slavery was already nearly extinct) and the Proclamation of the Republic (in 1889 when the emperor has become an obstacle to the interests of those elites).

And recently, President Lula has enabled these elites to turn control of the Legislative Power. A strategic mistake that will cost dearly to the Lula government and the Brazilian people.

Let me explain why this may be seen as a threat to Brazilian society.

As I explained previously in another article, there are 2 Brazils: an economically advanced and another that is pre-capitalist. This pre-capitalist Brazil is characterized by command and malpractice of a powerful elite that can be only defined as outrageous. This elite is composed of traditional families that control the media and the Judiciary in their states.

Families that during the twentieth century accumulated money through their huge farms and the diversion of funds from the federal government that were little by little changed from economic sector. In their states, their words are law, then control the newspapers, radio networks and television broadcasters. These families live as if they had some kind of “divine right” and try to stop their power is very dangerous, because the police control in their states.

They are often called colonels (due to the use of force), and caciques (cacique is a word that refers to the leader of an indigenous village, so their states can be compared to a tribe).

If we add up the areas that these families control, the result would be an area larger than France, Spain, Germany and Italy together!

And now a major cacique (a former president which lead Brazil to a monthly inflation of 20%)is the leader of the Brazilian Senate. The last time that happened was in 1992 and the result was the discovery of larger scheme of corruption in Brazilian. At that time Lula said the Congress was controlled by 300 bandits.

However, these bandits are what support the Lula government. Ironic, isn’t it?