Disappointment in Brazil!

Hussein Shobokshi FINALLY, the big event kicked off with the opening of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and other major Brazilian cities; two years after Brazil hosted the soccer World Cup. No doubt, these are the most important and popular sports competitions in the world. Brazil was supposed to be hosting these important competitions to celebrate its success and well-deserved accession to the ranks of elite and major industrialized nations and to prove itself that it is globally and economically one of the most important countries in the world. The nation owes it success to its former President Luiz Inacia Lula da Silva; famously known as “Lula,” during whose reign as president of the country, Brazil experienced its exceptional golden era of success, development and unprecedented growth in the country’s history, to become one of the most important examples of success among the emerging nations. It is an attractive destination for foreign capital investment and has some of the best companies in its bourse trading. Demand for its commercial aircraft has grown and its coffee market continues to expand for consumers around the world. After many years of failure, frustration and a long series of military coups, Lula returned stability to the country and the nation began to feel stability, prosperity and reaped rich fruits from the harvest. The world began to recognize Brazil and bet on its long-term success story until it fell into the traditional trap in which most of the Third World countries fall into. This is precisely the trap that former President Lula fell into despite having good intentions and successful administrative approach by relying too much on himself or what is called in the West “one-man-show.” Apart from this, he surrounded himself with people whom he trusted and did not depend upon efficiency of the people under him. When his constitutional mandate period ended, the Brazilian people elected his deputy Dilma Rousseff as president, hoping for “continuity” and expecting her to follow the footsteps of Lula. But Rousseff did not have the same degree of readiness, acumen and efficiency. Her era was known for corruption and nepotism as her cronies and supporters were involved in the political and economic decision-making mechanism. Thus, there was an increased wave of strong opposition against the deterioration of the economic situation, recklessness in implementation of huge government infrastructure projects while ignoring the slum areas. This outraged the people and resulted in her suspension and looming impeachment. Today, Brazil could be proud of being a great model among the Third World countries with the story of its success, political creativity in good governance and prudence in its economic performance, but the traditional plunge in the transformation of the mechanism of decision-making by the president and her cronies, whom she trusted but were not competent or efficient enough. This was actually reflected in the performance of Brazil in the World Cup itself as it came out with the most humiliating results in its history and as well as the consequences of delay in the completion of infrastructure projects for the Rio Olympics. Efficient people are more important than the people of trust. If this was realized earlier, Brazil would have celebrated a real wedding in Rio today!