Lesson from Brazil

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Tue, 10/31/2006 11:15 AM  |  Opinion

Brazil's presidential election runoff, pitting Lula, of the Workers Party (PT) against Geraldo Alckmin of the Brazilian Social Democratic Party (PSDB), offers some lessons for Indonesia.

One is Lula himself, an elementary school dropout, factory worker, trade union leader and opponent of military rule who became president of a great nation. In opposition, Lula was an inspiring spontaneous orator able to cut straight through the obfuscatory rhetoric of those in power. In this regard, the Indonesian figure he most resembled was Munir, who, tragically, will never become president of his country.

Also sadly, no person of Lula's educational background is allowed to become president, or even hold high office, because of the stipulation that candidates must have a high school diploma. This stipulation stems from an undemocratic outlook, where politicians are not so much people's representatives as elected bureaucrats, whose fitness for office must be vetted by authorities in case the ""ignorant"" populace choose the ""wrong"" people to represent them.

Do Brazilians feel that Lula is unfit to represent them? Perhaps many feel that he is not a great president, but none doubt that he is a worthy one.

Another lesson is that democracy takes time to produce accountable leaders. Although military rule ended in Brazil in 1985, it was not until Fernando Henrique Cardoso took office in 1995 that Brazil had a thoroughly credible and capable president. In the 1980s, the PT and PSDB were the only parties with an ideological commitment, while larger parties were mainly vehicles for the personal ambitions of their members. From small beginnings these two parties have now become the main contenders in elections for most major executive posts, from the presidency to provincial and local levels.

While FHC, Lula and co. have certainly not solved all their country's problems, they have at least tamed the worst problems of rampant inflation, crippling debt and ubiquitous poverty, and increased Brazil's prestige as a regional leader and rising world power.

So will Indonesian politics follow a similar pattern? One drawback is that Indonesia has no ideology-based parties, other than Islamic parties with sterile development programs. Another is that corruption and sectarianism -- Indonesia's biggest problems -- have more in common with lawlessness and gang violence, two problems that Brazil's leaders have failed to address convincingly.

Still, we can hope that the discipline of elections, free speech and a discerning public will gradually push Indonesia's political parties to seek candidates able to woo voters and practice transparent, accountable and effective government.

JOHN HARGREAVES
Jakarta

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