Brazil's election: An institutional trap of cynicism and corruption

Brazil's current presidential election is historically unique, pitting an 80-year-old incumbent seeking re-election against a candidate chosen as a substitute for a jailed political leader. The incumbent has led his party for nearly half a century, while the opposing candidate's support largely stems from his family ties and a 'vote by exclusion.'

A defining characteristic of this election is the profound civic cynicism. Both candidates, their families, and party leaders face grave accusations of corruption, described by Minister André Mendonça as 'mafioso.' The article contends that Brazilian institutions, including the Supreme Federal Court and the Superior Court of Justice, have degraded to an unprecedented level, compromising the defense of democracy.

This historical juncture signifies a qualitative shift, moving beyond mere patrimonialism. Corruption has scaled up, now merging with violent, organized crime. The author suggests that the public's sense of collective failure is perhaps greater now than at many points in Brazil's republican history. Unlike past periods of frustration, which often fueled transformative projects, the current cycle sees main actors operating in survival mode.

Parties, organized interests, and institutions are focused on self-preservation, making survival their primary program. Polarization has become the mechanism for this reproduction. This creates a new 'institutional trap': the greater the rejection of each political pole, the more necessary each becomes for the survival of the other, perpetuating a cycle of animosity and institutional decay.

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mafiosas