MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Electoral skirmishes in Brazil

Carnival is over and life usually returns to normal in Brazil. Or should do so. But in 2002 Latinamerica's most populous country and the world's ninth economy will be holding general elections, and a successor for President Fernando Cardoso, who is barred from a third mandate, must be found.

Mr. Cardoso recovering in the polls, is fertilizing the ground for the ruling alliance with the launching of a 30 billion program to combat poverty. But in the last two weeks the ruling alliance lost powerful allies. First was Carlos Antonio Magallaes the undisputed conservative leader of Bahia and the "Liberal Party" northeast block. President of the Senate and Minister on several periods, Mr. Magallaes not only has survived all governments including military rule, but has had an enviable influence in the Brazilian Congress and Executive given the number of Legislators he masters. However in the recent dispute for the Senate presidency of the new legislature, Mr. Cardoso sponsored a different candidate and Mr. Magallaes was not re-elected. Mr. Cardoso went further and sacked two Liberal Ministers while a furious Mr. Magallaes has began making public alleged corruption situations involving some of the President's cronies and Mr. Cardoso himself. The second problem happened with the death of Mario Covas, the powerful governor of Sao Paulo who turned Mr. Cardoso into a national figure. The leadership of this political group is now open, and so the potential for the presidential candidacy. In the always mutant Brazilian Congress, where party loyalty is second to political and regional interests, the new scenario, particularly with Mr. Magallaes opposing Mr. Cardoso, can bring surprises. Economic and political stability together with corruption promise to become key issues of the 2002 presidential elections. Economic stability for the Brazilian middle class is still not consolidated after a year of recession and unemployment, besides the fact that the overall improvement of the economy, export oriented, is yet to be felt in the pocket of the average Brazilian.