[Marxism] Lula's first anniversary

["Marvin Gandall" <marvin.gandall@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Despite spending cuts, social program rollbacks, and mass unemployment,
Brazilian President Lula da Silva still enjoys extraordinary popular support
on his first anniversary in office, reports today's New York Times.

The latest poll shows 66% of Brazilians support the Workers Party leader –
mostly, it would appear, on the strength of the close rapport he maintains
with working people, who have accepted his assurances that the government’s
austerity program is necessary for future economic growth.

The government jacked up interest rates immediately on taking office to
reassure foreign investors, stabilize the currency, and boost exports –
steps which had the desired effect – but the Times says it has since
struggled to revive domestic economic activity despite bringing rates down
since July.

Earlier, the Times reported the purge of four leading left-wing members of
the Workers Party as further evidence of its “shift away from (its) leftist
roots” – an action which publicly dismayed foreign supporters like Noam
Chomsky and Ken Loach who had hoped the party’s success would inspire a
revival of the international left.

NYT articles reproduced on www.supportingfacts.com


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