Lula laments political debate's decay, expresses 'nostalgia' for past contests

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva voiced a deep sense of nostalgia for past election campaigns, lamenting the current state of political discourse, particularly its degradation on social media. In a recent television interview, Lula contrasted the debates of decades past with the present, noting a decline in the caliber of politicians seeking office.

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The situation has been worsening. Today, if you compare the current contest with that of that time, you realize that the importance of the politicians running in the elections has diminished.

He specifically recalled his first presidential run in 1989, a landmark election following the end of Brazil's military regime. Lula remembered competing against prominent figures like Ulysses Guimarães and Leonel Brizola, describing those contests as more substantive. Today, he observed, some individuals seem to believe that internet notoriety or online antics are sufficient qualifications for the presidency. "Being president is another thing. It is making decisions... about serious matters," Lula stated, emphasizing the gravity of the role.

Lula expressed concern that the internet can amplify the voices of those he termed "delinquents" more effectively than those of honest citizens. Despite his disillusionment with contemporary politics, the president stressed the importance of civic participation and voting. He warned that abstaining from voting risks allowing a small, potentially "perverse" minority to dictate the direction of society.

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There are people who believe they can run as candidates thanks to the internet. There are people who believe that making jokes on the internet or causing a sensation on the internet gives them the right to be President of the Republic. Being president is another thing. It is making decisions... about serious matters.

The interview occurred concurrently with Brazil's first presidential debate for the upcoming election. Notably, neither Lula nor his main rival, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, participated in the event. The absence of these leading candidates, along with former Minas Gerais Governor Romeu Zema, meant the debate featured only a fraction of the initially invited contenders.

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The misfortune of those who do not like politics is that they are governed by those who do. And, if those who like politics are a perverse minority, we will be governed by that minority.