In 3 months, a new president; in 6, a new progressive government.

The countdown is on. In October, Brazil will have a new president, elected by popular vote. The first round is on the 7th, the second on the 28th. And in January we will have a new government.

If the names aren't certain, especially that of the person leading in all the polls, and the right wing is scattered, the only certainty is Lula's leadership and his ability to make whomever he endorses the favorite, should he be prevented from running.

There will be a PT candidate, the favorite. This is the path we have to defeat and overthrow the coup government and the regime of exception. The struggle along this path has a legal dimension – overcoming attempts to prevent his candidacy and his freedom –, a political dimension – launching the PT's electoral program, the outline of which has already been released, and alliances to form Lula's ticket – and a mass dimension – with increased mobilizations for Lula's freedom and rejection of the Judiciary's positions.

The other pre-candidacies are running out of time to establish themselves as viable alternatives on the left and remain expectant about what will happen with the PT's candidacy. The decision, as is becoming increasingly clear, will be made within the PT: either Lula or whomever he indicates from the PT, should he be prevented from running.

Ciro failed to unite right-wing forces to give him more space, leaving his candidacy limited to the PDT. The PSB clearly tends to leave the issue open, given the impossibility of reconciling the party in Pernambuco, which leans towards Lula, and in São Paulo, linked to Alckmin.

The immense space occupied by Lula leaves the other pre-candidates without their own space, to such an extent that the polarization between Lula and the coup government becomes the fundamental contradiction of the current political moment. In such a way that the resolution of this confrontation will decide the future of Brazil for a long time, perhaps for the entire first half of the century.

The right-wing field seems to be becoming clearer, with Alckmin's candidacy bringing together right-wing forces to compete with Bolsonaro for a possible spot in the second round. They gave up trying to elect someone from outside traditional politics. Meanwhile, Meirelles is left without any support, embodying the core of the Temer government's unpopularity and threatening to lead the PMDB to its worst result in history.

The countdown becomes dramatic. By August 15th, candidacies will be registered, and a new battle begins in the fight for Lula to be the candidate. The definitive constitution of the electoral scenario depends on it. The right wing is counting on Lula being barred from running and on him facing difficulties in transferring his influence and votes to whomever he chooses. Whoever it may be, the media and the judiciary will unleash upon him the same mechanisms of political persecution that Lula is a victim of.

This is the right wing's hope, because it can't expect much from its own strength, whether from Alckmin or Bolsonaro. It's time for the left to concentrate its forces around a real alternative to defeat the right wing and its coup. And the only possibility is Lula or whomever he indicates.

There are less than three months until the next president of Brazil is decided. Less than six months for a new government to begin rescuing Brazil, its democracy, workers' rights, and social policies for all.