A few days ago, while visiting the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid, a painting by Gutiérrez-Solana caught my attention, because of the inscription “Memento Mori”, the Latin expression that means “remember that you are mortal”.
In Classical Antiquity, this phrase was whispered in the ears of victorious Roman generals on parades of glory. It was the way found to control hubris and make these all-powerful men “descend to earth”.
I remembered these two little words (and it would be nice if they would be on a board on the desk of every politician today) regarding the presidential race in Brazil, which is starting to heat up. The thing is, looking from a distance that protects me from entrenchment, I confess that the main options that providentially arise in the two large blocks of the polarized Brazilian political spectrum make me strange.
On one side, the charismatic da Silva. Half man, half mesmerizing legend, Lula is one of the greatest global political animals of this century. Its story, as complex as it is intense, seems like a fictional plot. Yes, I am well aware that it was with Lula that Brazil advanced in the fight against inequality, poverty and, in access to education, in economic stabilization. It was beautiful to see so many millions of Brazilians rise to a middle class and aspire to more in their lives — without it, no country is prosperous and sustainable. It wasn’t so good to see the scandals and some positions taken on foreign policy aligned with the villains of history…
Like Charles de Gaulle, Churchill and Péron, he managed to return to power after a hiatus. And if, contrary to what he announced in 2022, he were re-elected, he would reach the end of his fourth term at the advanced age of 85 and with 16 years in office. It is true that Putin in Russia and Orbán in Hungary have governed longer than him, but they are terrible democratic examples. And it is unquestionable that, in the mid-80s, lack of energy and cognitive decline are already noticed in the vast majority of people. Lula is huge, but he is not a divine entity.
On the other side, emerges, who has already announced his pre-candidacy and is well placed in the polls. Without shame, he confirmed that he was chosen by his father, Jair, to represent him in the dispute. As if Brazil were a monarchy, it is blessed by the progenitor to spread the message “God, Country, Family and Freedom”.
Flávio grew up in the comfortable shadow of his father and, like all nepobabies, his surname is his main political capital. A predestined son or puppet, to whom the former president wants to pass on the testimony to keep the incendiary flame of Bolsonarism alive. He sells himself as a moderate, but everything smells of staleness, promises amnesty and dreams of the hero father’s return to the Planalto in 2027. The “Memento Mori” doesn’t stop there.
I debuted at Sheet writing that Brazil is an example for the world in many areas. I believe that this country has already shown great democratic maturity. And that is exactly why I say now — at the risk of being called a Lulista by the Bolsonaristas and a Bolsonarista by the Lulistas — that the country deserved more renewal and better options.
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