Light the Fireworks the Resistance Has Begun

From a simple letter in the Latin alphabet, L, has now become a global symbol of resistance against fascism, and the former shop steward, Lula, recognised as a political figure of immense historical stature. Whilst the far-right cultists with their Brasilian death wish prematurely declared victory after the first round, arrogantly began to appoint ministers, and organised celebratory motorbike cavalcades, defenders of democracy quietly hand signalled each other with forefinger and thumb at ninety degrees. The phenomenal online digital mobilisation of the Exército de Lula over the previous three weeks had given rise to cautious optimism, but nobody could have predicted the size of the turnaround in the second vote. Predictably, howls of incredulity, denial, and claims of fraud spewed out of the Bolsonaro camp that refused to accept the result. It was simply too much for them to bear and prompted poor Flavio to run away to Miami where in a masterclass of pomposity he declared himself the ‘rightful president in exile.’ The truth is, that it was not even a close-run race. The far-right was decisively beaten by a whopping four and half million votes. The palpable sense of relief after the result was announced on election night was electric. Even I opened a window and battered an aluminium saucepan with a wooden spoon. Like many others I was dreading waking up hungover on Monday morning with the knowledge that for the next four years Brasil would be run by fanatics who believe that the best form of governance is an unregulated economic neo-liberalism backed by political dictatorship. For the time being, hope has triumphed over hate, and solidarity over division. The war is far from over, but with the triumph of reason not just in Brasil, but in Serbia, and as of today the US, there are indications that the tide is turning. Avanti camaradas.