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 For president Lula and Geraldo Alckmin, the hunting season has started, without discriminations. It's time to hunt the defeated, the winners and those who were left to fight for the second-round runoff. In the last few hours, they have called everyone and their dog. They are amassing capital for the final investment.
As a result, they pawn what they have and what they don't have: posts in the ministry, shelter in parties under their leadership, support in elections, influence in their respective governments, perpetual friendship and even free admission to the presidential palace. Politics hasn't changed when dealing with this victory obsession. In Lula's camp for example: from Ugly Duckling, abandoned to his own fate in Bahia, Jacques Wagner after winning the Bahia's gubernatorial race, turned into an exuberant swan, in charge of energizing the South and the Southeast with the votes conquered in the North and the Northeast. From candidate defeated by the poll institutes Wagner became the governor without whom the PT won't be able to take another step, when it's time to recycle itself and to choose a new president. As for Geraldo Alckmin, also mentioning just one of his pursuits: he promised Michel Temer he will be the speaker of the House if he can tilt the PMDB towards his candidacy. Especially in the Northeast. Nothing has changed since Pero Vaz de Caminha wrote his letter to D. Manuel, the Portuguese king, asking a job for his son in law, after having announced the discovery of Brazil. Almost-Lost Chance It didn't happen yesterday, probably it won't happen today, I mean, it will never happen. There is talk of an all-encompassing meeting between the Federal Election Board representatives, the campaign command of the two presidential candidates and the national television networks. The idea is to agree in a formula that would allow the realization of a maximum of two debates between President Lula and Alckmin up to election day on October 29, that would be broadcast by a national television pool and not only by a network at a time as is case now. Everything would be under the aegis of the Electoral Justice, as it occurred in 1989 and in 2002. This would prevent the debates from being vulgarized. The way things are now the candidates feel compelled to show up at any TV channel that drafts them so that they won't be called chicken. With the elections the country's fate is at stake, something that is worth much more than the networks vanity, each one wishing to stage their own private show. All seem to indicate that Lula and Alckmin are condemned to attend at least five debates, wearing down with the same answers given to the same questions that will be asked from them. Even worse, they might be forced to go into the air in days with little audience, just because the viewers need to go to bed early so they can work the next day. And, they will also have to deal with soap operas schedules. auditorium programs and evangelical meetings, all of which, already bought and paid for, would have precedence over the debates. After the third debate the citizen will change the channel, commenting with his wife that he can't stand that country duo anymore. Presidential election is serious business, moreover in a runoff. Of course it's not something bigger than freedom of information and expression, but putting some order in this mess would only improve the popular vote, which is the larger goal of the institutions. Eternity Up to the election's first round mowing down the institution of reelection brought votes. Everybody was against the possibility of a ruler disputing a second mandate while still in office. And not only because using the administrative machine for our own benefit is a an immorality. Another reason was that candidates to the reelection knew they didn't have another constitutional chance to conquer a third mandate. This trend, however, is changing. First by the candidates who won their first election as governor. If others were allowed why aren't they? Election of governor only? You'd better pay attention at Alckmin, who hasn't opened his mouth lately to criticize the reelection. Besides him, we have all the mayors, with an eye on 2008. In the Congress also the push to extirpate from the Constitution this monstrosity isn't going anyplace. Those who were defeated lost the interest, with exception of those who are going to orbit around the governors elected for the first time or of those who have already offered their services to Alckmin, if he wins. Those who were reelected or are arriving for the first time in Brasília will think twice before they decide whether they will have something to win or to lose with the end of reelection. Even those in the PT have reason to pause, because, after all, if Lula gets a second mandate, who assures he will not start his fight for a third one fifteen minutes after taking office? Carlos Chagas writes for the Rio’s daily Tribuna da Imprensa and is a representative of the Brazilian Press Association, in Brasília. He welcomes your comments at
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. Translated from the Portuguese by Arlindo Silva.
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