A victory for the people.

The truth about this extremely difficult campaign was spoken last night by two voices: Lula's and Alckmin's. Lula stated that the victory was not his, nor the PT's, nor the parties that supported him. The victory belonged to the people, to democracy, to the women and men who built it. Alckmin proclaimed that only Lula's leadership could defeat the machine of lies, the dreadful state machine that was set in motion for Bolsonaro's benefit. It's true: any other candidate besides Lula would have lost this election. While this further enhances Lula's historical figure, it is also frightening. 

Indeed, this victory belonged to the people and to democracy; it was the victory of women, of Black people, of youth, of education, of culture, of science, of workers. The apathy of the first round was replaced by thousands of people taking to the streets. The arrogance of the "we've already won" attitude of the first round was trampled by the combativeness of the second round. The perception of danger allowed for the construction of a victory for the homeless, for those who are hungry, for those who live under bridges. It was the victory of those who have no hope, and it was the victory of hope. 

This victory defeated authoritarianism, violence, hatred, incompetence, and indifference. This victory defeated the mockery of the dead and the contempt for the living. It was a victory that defeated inhumanity and restored the feeling of humanity, that we are a community and that we have a common destiny.

Therefore, it was a victory for humanity, for life, for the planet, for nature. It was a victory for the forests, the rivers, the creatures of the water, the birds of the sky, the animals, the flowers, the fruits, the grains and the seeds. It was the victory of all those who want to leave as a legacy for future generations a planet in which one can live, in which one can contemplate natural beauty. 

We will be unworthy of our existence if we leave as our legacy a devastated land, ruins and rubble, unproductive and deserted areas, dry of water, empty of hope. We will be unworthy of our existence if we leave as our legacy a land without flowers, where vines cannot grow and bear fruit, where harvests cannot be made and where there is no wine to gladden hearts. 

All of that evil was immediately defeated. But it is not dead. It lingers everywhere as a threat. These elections have given it strength in Congress and in state governments. We still have a long fight to make so that we can leave a good legacy. We have a long fight to make so that we can truly be worthy of the gift of life that we have received. 

If we apply the theology of ancient religions and gods, which is the same biblical theology of sin and the punishment of Jehovah, the Judeo-Christian God, we can say that this God punished Bolsonaro, his wife Michelle, Damares Alves, Silas Malafaia, Edir Macedo, Pastor Valadão, Pastor Hernandes, and so many other money changers in the Temple. This theology says that sinners will be punished by divine wrath with defeat, a consequence of the sins they have committed. 

Yes, all these people sinned against the Constitution and against the people, uttered blasphemous words constantly, murdered innocence to gain votes, and had no scruples whatsoever. They manipulated the irate to commit violence, spreading fear. They did not hesitate to throw grenades and shoot at law enforcement officers. They fostered a lawless country. They murdered to gain votes in the peripheries. They chased citizens with weapons in hand through the busy streets of São Paulo. 

All of that has been defeated. The immediate evil has been averted. There will be time to catch one's breath, regain composure, and restore calm. Lula will have gigantic tasks ahead. He will have to exercise his immense capacity for dialogue to the point of exhaustion. Political realism indicates that the task will be more about reconstruction, about reconnecting dialogues, threads of hope, the recovery of frayed institutions, democratic practices, and legal procedures. 

Lula will have to assemble a solid and competent pluralistic government. This is because it was pluralistic forces that elected him. The figures who most prominently represented this plurality in the second round were Simone Tebet and Marina Silva, Senator Randolfe and Janones, among many others. He will have to engage in dialogue with some of the congressmen who were his adversaries. He will have to engage in dialogue with opposition governors.

Finally, praise is due to the TSE (Superior Electoral Court) and Alexandre de Moraes. Without their firmness and decisiveness, it's doubtful that these elections would have even taken place. At least, they wouldn't have taken place in the way they did. Many criticized the exceptional measures adopted by the Court and the minister, classifying them as censorship and an overreach of the rule of law. 

But history shows that the rule of law cannot be allowed to be destroyed, that democracy cannot be destroyed, by its own instruments. Faced with the exceptional violence with which the rule of law and democracy are attacked, it is legitimate that the limits of the law be used exceptionally to save both. Otherwise, democracy is murdered and violence can stain the laws, the Constitution, and the rule of law with blood. This is what the TSE (Superior Electoral Court) and Alexandre de Moraes prevented. This recognition is due to them. And this honor they deserve.

Ultimately, it was a hard-fought victory and, in many respects, a bitter one. The most bitter taste was Haddad's defeat in São Paulo. Even though it was bitter, it can and should be celebrated. And therein lies its sweetness.