In the ten months since Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, commonly referred to as Lula, assumed the presidency of Brazil, Brazilian leftism has been celebrating what they perceive as a triumphant victory over fascism. They championed his electoral campaign, which centered on nostalgia and criticism of Bolsonaro’s government, especially its handling of the pandemic and anti-vaccine stance. Bolsonaro’s response to his electoral defeat was far from graceful, and his overwhelmingly petty-bourgeois supporters resorted to desperate measures, staging encampments around army headquarters across the country. Bolsonaro maintained an ominous silence for several days, only to later express gratitude to his followers without explicitly acknowledging his electoral loss. Instead, he and his supporters initiated a series of attacks against the electoral system, alleging tampering with the voting machines.

Communists must not be swayed by the democratic façade presented by this supposed victory. In reality, what transpired on January 8th, when these same supporters invaded the Federal Congress, amounted to nothing less than an attempted coup d’état. It is now increasingly apparent, as revealed by investigations conducted by the Comissão Parlamentar de Inquérito (CPI), that this event was meticulously orchestrated by the Army High Command and financed by businessmen who mobilized supporters to Brasília.

The leftist establishment seems to have pinned all its hopes on the possibility of arresting Jair Bolsonaro, echoing the fervent desire of American leftists to see Donald Trump behind bars after the events of January 6th. This fixation on individuals as the root of all problems, whether Bolsonaro or Trump, is a perilous illusion which diverts the working class’s attention from the source of all problems facing the working class: the capitalist system.

Lula’s government, despite its grandiose promises of social rights and an improved quality of life for Brazilian workers, is unlikely to fulfill these commitments. This is not due to Lula’s personal shortcomings, but because bourgeois democracy, by its very nature, is incompatible with genuine socialist change. Lula’s ascent to power did not challenge the capitalist order; instead, it aimed to manage it more efficiently. The capitalist system remains fundamentally intact, with the interests of the bourgeoisie still in power.

The workers’ movement in Brazil, much like in any other nation, should not place reliance on a single leader. The strength of the working class lies in collective organization, not in the charm of an individual figure. Putting faith in leaders who do not fundamentally challenge the capitalist order only serves to paralyze the masses and restrict the potential for substantial change.

It is vital to recognize that only the proletariat, organized under the banner of the Communist Party, can lead the international struggle against capitalism. The working class must unite across borders, transcending nationalistic divisions that serve the interests of the bourgeoisie. Lula’s government, with its alliances and friendships with right-wing factions, does not – indeed, it never could – provide a genuine alternative to the capitalist system and operate within the confines of bourgeois politics.

A glaring example of Lula’s alignment with the bourgeois establishment is his decision to appoint his own lawyer, Zanin, as a minister of the Supreme Court. Zanin’s track record on the Court has consistently been reactionary, voting against the interests of the working class. This move exemplifies how Lula’s government prioritizes maintaining a semblance of unity with the right rather than championing the cause of the workers.

Lula’s cozy relationships with right-wing elements not only undermine the potential for meaningful change but also paralyze the masses. The illusion of progress created by his government serves to pacify the working class, deflecting their attention from the underlying issues of capitalism that continue to exploit and oppress them.

The Brazilian workers must exercise caution to avoid falling for the democratic illusions propagated by Lula’s government. Whether Bolsonaro is in power or not, the fundamental structures of capitalism and bourgeois democracy remain untouched. Genuine change can only come through the organized power of the working class under the leadership of the Communist Party. Relying on leaders who do not challenge the capitalist order will only perpetuate the exploitation and misery of the Brazilian working class. It is high time for the workers of Brazil to transcend the illusions of bourgeois democracy and join the international struggle to dismantle capitalism once and for all.