Now, it is time to maintain class independence and prepare the struggle for our demands and against any attack on our rights!

This Sunday (October 30), we managed to impose an important defeat to Bolsonaro (Liberal Party/PL) and the ultra-right in Brazil. In one of the most disputed and polarized elections in our history, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Workers´Party/PT) won 50.90% of the valid votes, equivalent to more than 60 million votes (60,345,999); against 49.10%, or a little more than 58 million votes, for Bolsonaro (58,206,354).

After four years of a disastrous and harmful mandate to the Brazilian people, especially to workers and the poorest ones, Bolsonaro is the first sitting president to lose reelection. Lula, on the other hand, will be president for the third time, by direct vote.

On Monday morning (31), more than 14 hours after the election results were announced, Bolsonaro hadn´t still have officially pronounced himself, acknowledging defeat, as it usually happens.

On the other hand, several members of the government and institutions, like the Senate and the House of Representatives, acknowledged the results of the runoff elections held yesterday. Several governments of foreign countries, such as the USA, France, China, Russia, and other leaders, did the same and congratulated the election of PT’s candidate.

Federal Highway Police: violence and use of the State machinery

Bolsonaro and his allies did everything to prevent his defeat. This Sunday, the final card was the attempt made by the Federal Highway Police (PRF) to harm the participation of the population in the electoral process.

On social networks, there were several reports of PRF operations that failed to comply with the determination voted by the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) not to carry out operations against the transportation of voters.

The PRF actions were concentrated mainly in the Northeastern region, where PT won by a wide margin in the first round. There were more than 600 actions, of which almost 50% were in the region. The Southern region, a Bolsonarist stronghold, on the other hand, registered only 8% of the operations. The hastag #DeixemoNordesteVotar (#LetNortheastVote) became a trending topic throughout the day.

On Saturday (29), the violence spread by Bolsonaro´s followers was also repeated. A week after the episode led by Bolsonaro’s ally, former congressman Roberto Jefferson (Brazilian Labour Party/PTB) – who received the Federal Police officers sent to arrest him on charges of LGBTIphobia, sexism and other crimes, with bullets and grenades –, the Federal Deputy Carla Zambelli (PL), after a political discussion in the “Jardins” neighborhood of São Paulo (SP), chased a black man with a gun. The congresswoman claimed that she was assaulted, but the images show otherwise: while chasing the man, she stumbles and one of her security guards even shoots him in the middle of the street.

The use of the entire State apparatus in favor of his candidacy was another hallmark of this election. Bolsonaro took all kinds of populist measures to try to “buy the vote” of the population, especially the poorest ones, who he never considered during his mandate, such as the increase (until December of this year) of the “Auxílio Brasil” (Brazil Aid) benefit, the maneuver to reduce fuel prices and the unrestrained use of the Secret Budget to favor Bolsonaro’s strongholds.

A critical vote for Lula

Against Bolsonaro, the National Executive Secretariat (SEN) of the CSP-Conlutas approved the critical vote for Lula in this 2nd round of the elections, to prevent the ultra right from continuing to lead the power and control of the Brazilian State and carried out a strong campaign, consistent with the struggle and campaign “Fora Bolsonaro” (“Bolsonaro Out”), carried out throughout the ultra right government.

Bolsonaro is anti-democratic, authoritarian and a threat to the democratic freedoms and rights, hard conquered after the end of the dictatorship. Not to mention the ultraliberal project and the policies against workers’ rights. Therefore, his defeat, in the elections, is a victory for the working class.

However, as highlighted by the Secretariat in the note, the critical vote for Lula does not mean support for the class conciliation project presented by PT and its alliances with the bourgeoisie.

“After conquering this important victory, with the defeat of Bolsonaro, we make a call to the entire working class, to the other Central Unions (Federations) and organizations of our class: now, it’s time to fight!”, says Atnágoras Lopes, member of SEN.

“Bolsonarism is not over. The election results also show that they will continue, with strength, in Congress and throughout the country, in several states and municipalities. Only with workers’ organization and struggles it will be possible, in fact, to impose a defeat to the reactionary project of the ultra-right, as well as guarantee the self-defense of our class. In relation to the Lula-Alckmin government, we cannot place any confidence on it or encourage any illusions, because it is, again, a government of class conciliation with our enemies: the bourgeoisie”, continued the CSP-Conlutas leader.

“It is necessary to guarantee class independence in relation to governments and bosses and prepare our organization and mobilization against any attack against the workers, as well as to fight for our demands, such as the repeal of the ongoing reforms on Labour, Social Security, and High School systems, the end of privatizations, the archiving of the Administrative Reform, the rejection of the so-called “Marco Temporal” (“Timeframe”) thesis against indigenous territories, among others. Now, it’s time to fight!”, he concluded.