I was little and ended up growing up to become an architect, urban planner and politician in Rio de Janeiro. But I was a baby during the events and I don’t remember them exactly. Still, I remember this story of the popular struggle for the right to vote for President of the Republic, which had been interrupted by the Military Dictatorship in the 1964 Coup.
Some of my memories of the campaign for Diretas Já! are linked to the posters, which remained on the streets and walls of the city. One of them must be part of the mental framework of images of all Brazilians who lived through the 1980s.
Direct now! entered the history of Brazil as a great effort of political and popular organization, demanding greater democratic participation. The campaign supported a Constitutional Amendment Proposal (PEC) aiming to reestablish direct elections for the Presidency of the Republic, and was frustrated in a conservative election in the Chamber of Deputies precisely on April 25, 1984.
The text of the PEC was presented on March 2, 1983 by then state deputy Dante de Oliveira (PMDB-MG). Thirteen months later, and despite popular support and the 80% approval rate among Brazilian men and women acquired in the meantime, the PEC was not approved by deputies, even passing through the Senate. There were 298 votes in favor and 65 against, and 113 absences and 3 abstentions that stood in the way of approval.
In just over a year between the presentation of the PEC and this bucket of cold water, the movement grew stronger. The campaign that united the people with political leaders, intellectuals and activists for direct elections spread across Brazil, channeling the strength of the desire for popular participation.
For this, large rallies were held. The first took place in São Paulo, in November 1983, in an event promoted by the PT, together with PMDB, PDT and civil society entities. 23 of these took place across the country. Another strong memory of those who lived through that time is of Fafá de Belém from Pará singing the national anthem, then releasing a white dove from the stage, in a gesture that became a symbol of the movement. At Lula’s insistence, Fafá participated in all the campaign rallies, and she went without charging a fee.
In Rio de Janeiro, the slogan “I want to vote for president” appeared on posters, buttons, t-shirts, banners, caps… Here there was a lot of coordination, and a rally that took 1.1 million people to the surroundings of the Candelária Church, in Center, where they heard the speeches of people like Leonel Brizola, Cacique Juruna, and our Lula, always him.
On the night of the vote in the Chamber – exactly forty years ago – popular participation in this conversation was such that the population demonstrated by making a “noise” in defense of direct elections. But, unfortunately, by just 22 votes, we suffered a democratic defeat.
Even so, the Diretas Já! campaign did not dismantle completely. To the detriment of Ulysses Guimarães and Paulo Maluf, Tancredo Neves ended up being chosen by the electoral college, in an indirect election, to be the first non-military president in 21 years. But Neves died, never managing to govern, and his then deputy, José Sarney, took over.
It was only in 1989 that Brazil voted again for President of the Republic. And Lula was there, without fear of being happy. But that’s another story, one that I remember even better, and I’ll tell it another time. Proud to be part of the PT, which yesterday, today and always fights for democracy in Brazil.
*Tainá de Paula is an architect, urban planner and urban struggle activist. She is a specialist in Cultural Heritage from the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation and a Master in Urban Planning from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). Currently, she is a licensed councilor and holds the position of Secretary of Environment and Climate for the City of Rio de Janeiro.
