A PSTU Statement on the electoral results
The PSTU was part of the Left Front with Heloisa Helena as presidential candidate, opposing both Lula and Alckmin. We believe this to have been very important for the Front represented a left alternative to these two projects of defence the neoliberal pattern and the same corruption that has been playing havoc with the country. Preliminary results of the s
1) The PSDB and PFL are two parties of the traditional right in this country, and they wish to return to power in order to steal and apply the same economic policy that favours the rich and harms the workers. During those eight years they have been in power (1994-2002). They were liable for the introduction of the neoliberal pattern in
2) During his first term in office, Lula maintained the same neoliberal policy as FHC. He cut off thousand of millions from the budget for health, education and land reform (by means of “primary surplus”) in order to pay the home and foreign debts and carried out measures that Brazilian bourgeoisie and international financial capital demanded, such as the reform of the Social Security.
3) Lula has never governed for the workers. The fact that Lula has once been a worker’ leader
4) Both Lula and Alcmin are set to attack workers’ rights and apply the central measures demanded by imperialism and the Brazilian bourgeoisie, such as the new reform of social security and the trade union and labour reforms. The labour reform is aimed at eliminating historic achievements of the working class, such as the thirteenth salary, reduce the time of holidays, flexibillise the mechanisms through which workers are employed and put an end to indemnity for layoffs. The trade union reform will grant full powers to the central bureau
5) Neither Lula nor Alckmin represent the interests of the workers in this second shift of the elections. In spite of electoral confrontations, there is nothing more similar to a PT administration than an administration of toucans (a toucan is the symbol of the PSDD, editor’s Note). Both share the same neoliberal economic plan and the same corruption. They squabble furiously but only to see who will benefit from the state apparatus.
6) To vote Lula or Alcmin is, therefore, a blank cheque to go ahead with corruption and the preying on our rights. That is why the PSTU says “Neither Lula nor Alkmin” and calls for a null vote in the second shift of the elections. We also summon on our partners in the Left Front to stand for the null vote and to carry out together a shared campaign for that viewpoint. This would be the continuity of what we defended together in the first shift of the elections. This would also be a first step to continue with a relentless struggle against the neoliberal project, regardless of who its executor may be.
[1] The “bloodsucker mafia” was an organisation the used to handle the distribution of the funds for the purchase and lease of ambulances for the federal government, the states and the town councils, with high surplus prices. The issue is under enquiry by a Parliament commission and over sixty Members of Parliament have been accused of having received bribes from this organisation, most of them from the right-wing opposition. The Congress, however, postponed the decision on the loss of mandate of the MPs involved until after the election, so that many of them ran and won their posts. The representatives for the PT and CPdoB (ruing parties) cooperated with this definition, more likely than not in consideration of the favour received when many of those involved in the “mensalao” affair were left unpunished. Last week the “bloodsuckers” affair came to an unexpected turning point when it became known that several members of Lula’s campaign committee were caught with money to buy a dossier that could involve Alckmin and Serra (PSDB candidate for Sao Paulo governorship) with the “bloodsuckers” to hand over to the press. But the right-wing opposition took advantage of this situation to launch a denunciation against the government and the PT. This led to the resignation of Berzoni, the chief of Lula’s campaign and historic cadre of the PT. It looks as if this could be one of the factors that contributed towards the need for a second shift in the presidential elections.
