Contrary to the way the news is reported here, the Workers’ Party (PT) now governing Brazil is a party of socialist bent that pretends to be moderate while implementing a radical agenda.

During Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s successful presidential campaign, the PT played down its socialistic nature to avoid negative reactions from the highly centrist and even conservative Brazilian voters.

1. Fusing of two Lulas
In fact, what we are now seeing is a fusing of two Lula images: the old Lula, the union leader with the new Lula, the statesman who respects the market.

2. The PT also has two faces
Since there is no doctrinal revision in the works, the present government sails adrift on a non-calibrated mixture of new practices and old concepts.

3. Controlling Brazil via the state
This administration is introducing a massive influx of Workers’ Party activists into the state machinery - a move dubbed by some as the "colonization" of the state by the party, or the "partyfication" of the government.

4. Information control in government
Brazilian journalists drafted a petition titled A Manifesto for the Freedom to Inform which sustains that the government has imposed a “gag law.”

5. Controlling Culture
The left typically tries to dominate culture and thus change society. Following this rule, the PT has started molding Brazilian culture to reflect its own ideology.

6. Pressuring and Controlling Congress
A climate is being created in Congress where the idea is: "He who is against government-proposed reforms is against Brazil."

7. Controlling the Judiciary
The government also wants to subject the judiciary branch to "external control" and has already set up a commission for this purpose.

* * *

The facts narrated above are but a small sampling of what has been happening in Brazil under the Lula da Silva administration’s drive to centralize political power in the hands of the Workers’ Party.

That concludes this issue of LulaWatch. Until next time,

Sincerely yours,

C. Preston Noell III

Vol. I

Jan No. 1 / Jan No. 2

Feb No. 3 / Feb No. 4

Mar No. 5 / Mar No. 6

Apr No. 7 / May No. 8

May No. 9 / June No. 10

July No. 11 / August No. 12

Sept No. 13 / Oct No. 14

Nov No. 15 / Dec No. 16

Vol. II

Jan No. 1 / Feb. No. 2

Feb. No. 3 / Mar. No.4

Jun. No. 5 / Sep. No.6

Nov. No. 7 / Nov. No.8

Vol. III

Jan. No. 1 / Apr. No. 2

Apr. No. 3 / May No. 4

July. No.5

Vol. IV

Feb. No. 1 / Dec. No.2

Dec. No.3 / Dec. No.4

Vol. V

Jan. No. 1 / Feb. No.2

Feb. No.3 / Mar. No.4

Mar. No.5 / Apr. No.6

May. No.7 / May No.8

June. No.9 / July No.10

August. No.11 / Sep. No.12

Oct. No.13 / Oct. No.14

Vol. VI

Jan. No. 1 / Mar. No.2

Lula Fooling the World
Lula's party covered up its
historic radicalism during the
elections, but now in power is
gradually re-nationalizing formerly
privatized assets.

Brazil says NO to Gun Control
- October 27, 2005
The international left was monitoring with great expectations the results of Brazil’s weekend referendum on a nationwide ban on the sale of guns and ammunition. A Yes vote would have been celebrated as a victory for gun control not only in Brazil but worldwide.