Dilma and FHC: War Of Words

FHC and Dilma:
Are they getting ready to shake, or arm wrestle?

In an article published on September 3, "O Globo" reports that President Dilma Rousseff wrote a response to an op-ed by ex-President Fernando Henrique Cardoso (FHC) that appeared in the September 2 issue of  "O Globo" and "O Estado de S. Paulo."  

Entitled "Herança Pesada," (Heavy Legacy) FHC's editorial says that Lula left Dilma a "legacy as heavy as lead." He includes a litany of charges that range from a "moral crisis" to alleged failures in fiscal and pension reform, and misguided energy policies.  

He opens by reminding readers of the eight ministers who left Dilma's government during the first year, seven of them for suspected corruption. He goes on to discuss the "mensalão" scandal, and while he makes no claim that either Lula or Dilma were directly involved, he clearly finds Lula to have been remiss in his handling of the scandal.

He then moves on to economic policies, accusing Lula of making decisions based on popular approval rather than fiscal responsibility.  Other issues that are mentioned are a failure to implement meaningful pension reform, as well as public works projects that were more costly than predicted. He ends with a critique of Lula's energy policies, which he says resulted in Brazil having to import ethanol from the United States.

Dilma, never one to sit by quietly, quickly replied to FHC's attack on her predecessor and mentor.  

The story was picked up by "O Globo" and "Folha de S. Paulo," among others.

Dilma opens her response this way: "Citada de modo incorreto pelo ex-presidente Fernando Henrique Cardoso, em artigo publicado neste domingo, nos jornais O Globo e O Estado de S. Paulo, creio ser necessário recolocar os fatos em seus devidos lugares." (My inexpert translation: "Incorrectly cited by former President Fernando Henrique Cardoso in an article published Sunday in the newspapers 'O Globo' and 'O Estado de S. Paulo,' I believe it is necessary to put the facts in their proper place").

Dilma continues by saying that she received from Lula "a blessed inheritance." She writes that Lula left her a country that did not require intervention from the International Monetary Fund, and was not under threat of a blackout, thus making thinly veiled references to the IMF monetary restrictions placed on Brazil during FHC's administration, and an energy crisis that occurred during his second term.

She calls Lula a "statesman" and "Um democrata que não caiu na tentação de uma mudança constitucional que o beneficiasse" ("a democrat who didn't fall under the temptation of a constitutional change that would have benefited him").  This is an obvious reference to the amendment to the Brazilian constitution allowing two consecutive presidential terms, an amendment which was supported by FHC, was passed during his first term, and which allowed him to run for a second term.  

Dilma writes about the 40 million people who were lifted from poverty into the middle class during Lula's time in office, she states that the country is more just, with less inequality, and that Brazil is more respected abroad as a result of his time in office.

She concludes by saying that the past should serve as a lesson, not a source of resentment.  She states that while she has learned both from the errors and successes of her predecessors, she governs with her eyes on the future.

I find this sort of open exchange between an ex-President and the current President fascinating and revealing. Based on my limited knowledge of modern Brazilian history and politics, the relationship between FHC, Lula, and by extension, Dilma, is complex to say the least.  

FHC and Lula began as political allies during the military dictatorship, but then went on to run against each other in two successive elections for President, with Cardoso winning both times. FHC, along with many impartial observers, believes that he laid the groundwork during his own administration for many of the successes that occurred during Lula's administration.  FHC's "plano real," which was implemented when he was Brazil's Finance Minister, was responsible for finally bringing Brazil's rampant inflation under control. As a victim of the military regime, FHC was also a strong advocate for human rights and social justice.

FHC has been reported to be resentful that he has not received sufficient credit from Lula for the work that he did as President.  Still, in a recent interview, FHC said that he and Lula continue to stay in contact by phone. It will be interesting to see if his editorial, which was so critical of Lula, will affect their relationship.  

It would be highly unusual for a former US President to publish an editorial in which he openly criticizes his successors. They generally reserve such commentaries for their memoirs, which are usually published after their immediate successor is no longer in office.  Former US Vice-Presidents have also observed this unwritten rule, with the notable exception of former Vice-President Dick Cheney, who has spoken openly and often in strong opposition to the policies of President Barack Obama.