The enemy behind the door

Karl Marx was right when, in The 18th BrumaireHe noted that history does not repeat itself. It unfolds as tragedy (Napoleon Bonaparte, the great) and then as farce (Louis Napoleon, the nephew, the lesser). In the daily lives of men, the rule is also proven, with due proportions, if we compare Arthur Lira with Hugo Motta. The latter reached the position he holds as President of the Chamber of Deputies giving the impression of a skillful statesman, with good manners, with progressive touches in his speeches, even citing the film. The In BetweenSuddenly, during the IOF episode, his true colors were revealed. He was no longer the trustworthy, man of his word. He was conspiring against the government and rallying all his supporters to a single cause.

Lula's defeat became inevitable.

First, the abrupt turnaround, the transformation from water to wine in 24 hours, was unexpected! It was assumed that the congressman had perhaps been influenced by a small dose of solidarity principles to understand that, in terms of taxes, the poor already pay too much and the rich pay almost nothing. A mistake. Motta was hiding, behind the door, the "Doesn't Care" attitude, as the videos on social media, which captured the moment and garnered millions of views, clearly showed. Our first representative, until that moment careful, polite, and willing to dialogue, had registered the low blow and responded accordingly. Contrary to what had been assumed, that he appeared weak and discredited in the polls, he re-emerged vigorous, with a militant electoral base inclined to support him, along with important segments of the population. In the next election, they will face a determined opponent, capable of fighting, truly unbeatable. In his conspiracy with Ciro Nogueira, Hugo "Doesn't Care" understood that a lack of character is not good for politics. Studying the behavior of the Chief Executive wouldn't be a bad thing for him, although personality and psychological makeup generally aren't transferable. Unlike many, Lula doesn't abandon those who have shown him solidarity during difficult times. Consider his meeting in Buenos Aires with Cristina Kirchner. The long, human embrace with which he greeted her, knowing she was a victim of persecution... lawfare...an ideologically driven and rigged justice system designed to prevent her from running for office. It's the same old farce. In the videos, the "Doesn't Care" guy, at a dinner with millionaires, plays a brilliant role, cheerful like a hero (as João Doria celebrated him on TV to confirm his title). From his point of view, the hero turned villain, the problem was the hangover, the... day after...in revelry. Like Rubião from Machado de Assis, he must have looked in the mirror and seen himself with an empty head, after raising his hands, lifting them, and crowning himself with... nothing. The good image, cultivated with his election at the head of the plenary, had crumbled. He was rolling through the streets at the edge of the gutters. Rebuilding someone's lost dignity is no simple task. He'll have to struggle. And now, where are the advisors (Ciro Nogueira & Co.?) who led him to the abyss? They no longer show themselves behind the door.

Ronaldo Lima Lins is a writer and Professor Emeritus at the Faculty of Letters of UFRJ (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro).