Political weather which should have rightly supported the Games is seriously moving towards an explosion for sure. Beyond the Games, what brings home and to the international community is the simmering political crisis in Brazil
It was in 2009, Brazil, one of the most emerging and promising economies of South America, had bagged the right to host the prestigious Olympic Games in this part of the world. The then President who was considered one of the most powerful politicians of the country, luis Inacio lula da Slva, had added another feather to the cap of his left-ruled Rio de Janerio, the “cidade maravilhosa” (wonderful city). The city became the first venue in South America hosting the Olympic Games. lula who was at the peak of his political career, promised to the international community, “Those who give us this chance will not regret it.” Many political observers simply put it: the staging of the Olympic in Rio in 2016 was meant to be the crowning moment of evolution on Brazil’s long route to one of the most powerful and arguably, the successful democracies in the oft-neglected bizarre world of left bastions of the southern hemisphere.
Why the ‘Rio 2016’ will pass on as a dark saga in the history of the Olympic GamesIJ
First of all, political weather which should have rightly supported the Games is seriously moving towards an explosion for sure. Beyond the games, what brings home and to the international community is the simmering political crisis in Brazil. This Wednesday, the country’s Senate voted to hold an impeachment trial, which could have eventually seen the embattled President Dilma Rousseff out of office. If the political trend is correct, then she will definitely be out of office permanently. The vote in favour of Rousseff’s impeachment was 59; and 21 in against. The Senate suspended Rousseff, the first female President of Brazil, on May 12 over the accusations of illegal accounting practices and fiddling the entire budget to hide a sliding economy. Now, it is expected that just after four days of the end of the mega Olympic Games, around August 25, Rousseff’s impeachment trial is all set to begin.
Second, it seems the very impeachment process was initiated both by the opponents of Rousseff and the crooks of the country. The conservative political class of the country who are long waiting for overthrowing the left front Government from power is taking full advantage of the economic crisis. They are also quietly building on the rising resentment of the middle classes towards the Rousseff Government. Undeniably, her massive financial irregularities and an overt attempt to shield her mentor lula may certainly help the country’s elite put forward their self-perpetuating agenda in the days to come. It is not just possible to rule the country without the blessings of the elite. Even her election was an unacceptable fact and accident for this class which is slowly feeling that they are losing the grip on power. Henceforth, her current suspension, propelled by business federations and a legislature that resembled almost a circus, reflects that the Brazilian elite is fully prepared to sacrifice the political and institutional achievements brought by two decades of democratic rule for grabbing the State.
Third, campaigns echoed earlier, just months before starting the carnival, the mood of the people, who were demanding ‘fora Dilma’ (Dilma out’) and today, the same Brazilians shout in much stronger voice ‘fora Temer’, for an ouster of the current interim leader and deeply unpopular Vice-President Michel Temer.. What does this meanIJ The commoners across Brazil and particularly in Rio are not in a mood to celebrate the arrival of the historic Games to their city. They are too detested with their political class.
Fourth, above all Rio 2016 is too different from london and Beijing. london had the advantage of everything — the wealth of a first world nation. The great heritage architecture of an imperial power and the support from all their Western brethren. When it comes to Beijing, it enjoys the rare advantage of political stability, which very few big powers enjoy. The famous British sports historian, David Goldblatt, ranks the preparation for Rio 2016 as the ‘worst in Olympic history’. Thus Rio neither enjoys the advantage of one party rule of China nor the pomp and glory of the former imperial power of Britain. Hence Rio 2016 may be rated by many as not more than a typical South American fiesta.
Fifth, recently the International Monetary Fund has given a little respite to Brazil by indicating that there may be a slight improvement in the economic fortunes of the country by 2017. It all can happen through a relative improvement of the country’s economic indicators like that of the currency and the stock market. But global experts say it will be hard to realise this optimism against the backdrop of the growing unrest among the middle class, civil society organisations, trade unions and massive forces that represent the Brazil’s poor population.
Sixth, it can be safely said that the ugly heads of this crisis are not going to be seen soon at least inside the Rio Olympic stadiums as they are full of people coming from the rich sections of society. But it is hoped that the Brazilian police and security personnels will not deter the ordinary citizens to showcase their peaceful protests just outside the grandiose stadiums and playgrounds made for Olympic participants.
Seventh, Brazil has seen its per capita income fall by 35 per cent over the past five years. This has forced the Brazilian State to struggle for aligning the priorities of the federal, state and the city administrations of Rio. Even within half a year, the country has seen three successive Sports Ministers.
Eighth, the Rio city administration has not been able to offer regular salaries to its police and security forces in the past. But recently there has been an infusion of cash from the federal coffers to ensure the security of the Olympic Games. At least this immediate step from the federal policy makers has stopped the country’s police from going to strike. As their salaries were delayed by the bankrupt State Government of Rio, the police have greeted the visitors in the international airport with banners saying ‘welcome to hell’. This is shocking and unbelievable.
Ninth, Rio has been a seat of banking and bureaucracy which the State has failed to replaced so far. But in 2007, the discovery of huge underwater oil deposits had brought a glimmer of hope to the unemployed youth of the State. Unfortunately, the global slowdown in oil prices and a devastating scam of the national oil company, the Ptrobras, have once again put back the Rio State into the crisis. Always blessed with natural resources and beauty of the glam beaches, the State has never tried to generate any alternative sources of livelihood. Thus many observers on Brazilian society say, Cariocas (as the people of Rio are known) do not plant, they just pluck all the time. This is one of the reasons why the Rio State is not been able to provide a stable financial back to the glorious game.
Finally, especially Brazil and the entire South America is known as a paradise for football and its greatest ever legends. So people are not much enthusiastic about the Olympic Games. Thus almost a fifth of tickets are still not sold out. Many sports analysts say this tepid interest in Olympic may be because of the Brazilians obsession with the game of football.
Barring all the naysayers, Carlos Nuzman, the President of the Organising Committee of Rio 2016, says, “We strongly believe that the Games can be the antidote to the doom and gloom. The Games can lift the national mood, unite the population behind the outstanding exploits of the athletes and show the very best of Brazil.” Hope this comes true. Brazil continues its long journey to democracy. Its people are dying to see the wonderful city in reality. But whenIJ Or is Brazil slowly plunging into a deep political crisisIJ Is it again sliding back to the hands of the elite of the countryIJ Of course, successful Games, minus the political and economic turmoil, could have lifted the downbeat mood currently prevailed across Brazil. Anyway, the Olympic Games can be a seasonal event that comes once in a blue moon less for economic empowerment than for showcasing a country’s prestige to the international community. So, this can never be an economic dynamo to lift Rio from its economic mess. The entire nation is in need of better fiscal management, crime fighting and a sense of not looting the public coffer for sure. First and foremost, veterans lula and Rousseff must fall in line. They must be treated as per the law of the land for mismanaging the massive public fund of the country. And the rest of the looters, too be brought to the book. In the meantime, the Brazilians must ensure that the country’s power hungry elite does not take over the State. Democracy must survive for the betterment of all Brazilians. With the farewell to the Olympic fanfare, the Brazilians will be caught with the hard realities of their life. Then the real carnival will begin.
(The writer is Senior Editor, The Pioneer)