Commentators were buzzing over the weekend following the publication of the PT’s ‘radical’ campaign manifesto on Dilma Rousseff’s polished official website. Listing the party’s platform and campaign commitments, the original manifesto included commitments to judge the takeover of lands on a per case basis; socialize information and the private media; and tax the country’s big fortunes – all seen as affronts to private ownership. The PSDB’s José Serra took advantage of the gaffe to argue that the PT electoral ticket was being driven by radical elements in the party coalition. The response to the PT’s original manifesto prompted an immediate replacement of the text with less combative language and an apology from Dilma Rousseff blaming the mistakes on “human error.”
Human error aside, the event has already reopend debate on the role of agriculture in Brazil’s development and prompted the Landless Workers Movement, considered one of Latin America’s largest radical social movements, to express their tepid support for Ms. Rousseff (seemingly vindicating Mr. Serra’s remarks).
Some commentators saw the tone of the original manifesto as the return of the PT’s old guard and radical base after eight years of moderation under the leadership of President Lula, while others noted the striking similarities between Ms. Rousseff’s pledges and those of President Lula’s 2006 re-election campaign. The “error” could also be seen as a way of rallying the party’s rural and radical base while keeping more moderate voters on board as well.
Regardless of its true intentions, the manifesto’s retraction and subsequent editing follows a pattern of reported frictions between the PT leadership and the Rousseff camp. The PT’s President, Jose Dutra, has previously expressed discontent with Ms. Rousseff’s rapid ascendance in the PT’s ranks after having only recently joined the party. As the campaign enters its most competitive stages the conflict between the PT’s historically-radical brand and the Rousseff/Lula moderate line could become an increasing distraction.
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