Society

Brazil and the rising tide of authoritarianism

As democratic institutions fail to respond to Brazil's needs, a wave of authoritarianism rises in the country. Some call for a military coup

brazil authoritarianism military dictatorship censorship
Military troops occupy Rio’s Rocinha favela. Photo: Fernando Frazão/ABr

On October 12, which is a national holiday in Brazil, a group of roughly 1,000 people took to the streets of São Paulo asking for military intervention in the federal government. “We need strong leadership to promote a cleansing in our political system,” said Fatima Soares, a 55-year-old lawyer who traveled from Rio de Janeiro solely to attend the demonstration in favor of authoritarianism. She continued: “We’re fed up with so much incompetence and corruption. No more, we say!”

A group of 1,000 is certainly not representative of a country that features a population of 207 million. Nevertheless, it offers us a glimpse into how radicalism has risen in Brazil. Previously, nostalgia for the military regime was something that people kept quiet – or at least chose their audiences very carefully. Now, it seems that more people are comfortable expressing their desire for a return of the generals. During the 2013 demonstrations against the political class, interventionists made up only a handful of people, and were often ridiculed by other protesters. But in 2017, they’re calling their own demonstrations.

Meanwhile, the political system has been discredited by the successive corruption scandals tarnishing all major parties. The sitting president, Michel Temer, is facing accusations of leading a criminal gang. Next week, he risks becoming the first head of state to be formally prosecuted while still in office (an unlikely scenario, but still possible). Brazil’s most popular — and polarizing — politician has been recently convicted of corruption and money laundering, and is sentenced to 9 years and 6 months in prison. A mere 7 percent of Brazilians trust our parties and politicians.

Imposed “solution”

Given the gravity of the situation, several army generals have publicly called for a military intervention. An “intervention,” of course, is just a nicer way of saying “coup d’état.”

Just a month ago, Army General Antonio Hamilton Mourão gave a speech during a freemasonry meeting, stating that military intervention might be “necessary.” He continued: “Either our institutions solve the political issue, and the justice system takes [politicians] involved in wrongdoings away from the public life, or we will have to impose [a solution].”

And Gen. Mourão wasn’t the only one sharing the belief. Retired General Luiz Eduardo Rocha Paiva published an op-ed in O Estado de S.Paulo, one of Brazil’s largest newspapers, declaring that “if a convicted felon is to take power in 2018, the military should intervene.”

The newspaper subsequently ran an editorial to...

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