The Center Right Not So Resurgent | Sambodia

From the Diário do Comércio, a daily glocal yellow journalism hot sheet controlled by the São Paulo municipal political machine — now tending toward a breakaway party, the PDS, led by Mayor Kassab — a frank analysis of what the center-right and right needs to do to regain Power — the capitalization is theirs — in 2014.

Recently, a notably concerted campaign by the Brazilian press sought to create moral panic on two fronts: (1) the possible corruption of a senior government minister and (2) the prospect of raging inflation. Neither of the two had a leg to stand on, but were hammered on systematically in an attempt to drive down the popularity of the current federal situation in the polls.

In this analysis, our Machiavellian marimbondo admits  the failure of the strategy — Dilma remains quite popular — and outlines more radical steps to be taken. The essay is titled, more or less — rather less than more, really –”The PSDB at the point of a gun.” Our author: Eymar Mascaro.

The leadership of the Brazilian Social Democratic Party (PSDB) is clamoring for the total support of the 8 governors elected by the party in 2010 in the effort to defeat the federal government of Dilma Roussef.

I cannot tell you why I still use my precious hours of leisure to type out translated notes on Brazil as the Brazilians see it. For some musing along those lines, see my recent Lack of Progress Report. Brasil Weekly is a much better, less quirky, overview of current Sambodian events, for instance.

With the publication of the Datafolha poll, PSDB party president  Sérgio Guerra concluded that the party has to start weakening the PT if it wants a real chance at retaking Power in 2014.

The Datafolha surprised the opposition, which vainly expected the Palocci case to erode the popularity of the government.

This is a “boy who cried wolf” effect, in my reading.

That didn’t happen. Dilma’s approval rating didn’t budge. Despite this outcome, however, the opposition is going to fight to keep the Palocci case alive, expecting Dilma and the PT might still be damaged by the episode.

There simply is no evidence of criminal wrongdoing by the PT minister, whose only fault is that of many politicians: taking advantage of the “revolving door” effect while out of elected office.

The PSDB also decided to amp up its criticisms of the PT, taking advantage of the crisis between the president’s party and the PMDB, who want more posts in the government.

The opposition, however, is in doubt on one point: since the states depend so much on federal funds for public works, the party may not be able to rely on the complete cooperation of its governors.