Choosing Sides

A step toward civilian rule

The two gatherings could not have been more different in style. The military-backed Social Democratic Party met at Brasilia's modern convention center, where a brass band blared, girls flounced in colored costumes, and banners, balloons and neon signs proclaimed the names of the party's two candidates. The opposition Brazilian Democratic Movement Party gathered in a building in the heart of the city, but apart from the crowded parking lot, it was hard to tell that a meeting was even taking place. There were no bands or pretty cheerleaders, and posters and banners introduced not candidates but issues. Despite the differences, both parties were meeting for the same purpose: to select a candidate for next January's electoral college, in which delegates will choose the country's first civilian President after 20 years of military rule.

The conventions were another long-awaited step in the country's slow return to democracy, which has been carefully controlled by the military. Since the generals came to power in a 1964 coup, five of their number have served as President. But the last two generals have been gradually carrying out an abertura, or political opening, which has included amnesty for political prisoners, a partial lifting of censorship and more opposition-party participation in government. The results of the conventions, however, could signal not only the end of military control but the beginning of rule by an opposition party. The Brazilian Democratic Movement Party chose as its candidate Tancredo Neves, 74, a moderate, avuncular lawyer and governor of Minas Gerais state. Political analysts say he has a good chance of winning.

The Social Democratic candidate is Paulo Salim Maluf, 52, a conservative, wealthy businessman and former governor of Sao Paulo state, whose victory was the result of patient and persistent back-room politicking among convention delegates.

His nomination came as something of a disappointment to President Joao Figueiredo, 66, who has at times privately preferred Mario David Andreazza, 66, the low-key Interior Minister. Figueiredo has agreed to support his party's candidate, but some party members feel Maluf is an unpopular public figure who would not represent their views. A dissident group of about 60 Social Democrats, led by Brazilian Vice President Aureliano Chaves, decided to support Opposition Candidate Neves in exchange for a policymaking role in a government he might lead.

Although the dissidents believe that Neves is the more likely of the two candidates to restore confidence in Brazil's government and hasten the return to democracy, neither is expected to steer Brazil far from the policies of Figueiredo. In trying to manage the country's estimated $100 billion foreign debt, Neves emphasizes social and economic justice first, whereas Maluf proposes a free-market solution to the problem. Says Maluf: "Brazil has never had a businessman as President. We need to change the mentality of the country."

Both men have pledged to work for more jobs to ease Brazil's combined unemployment and underemployment rate of 40% and curb its 218% annual inflation.

Despite the military government's continuing political relaxations, one thing will not change in next year's elections:

the President will be chosen not by popular vote but by a 686-member electoral college made up of the House of Representatives, the Senate and delegates from the majority party in each of Brazil's 23 states. Although the Social Democrats have a more than 30-seat majority in the college, Maluf faces an uphill fight. In addition to the Social Democratic dissidents who have pledged to support Neves, more than a dozen disenchanted supporters of Interior Minister Andreazza have indicated they might follow suit. Should that happen, Neves is almost certain to lead the political reawakening after what he has called Brazil's "eclipse of 20 years."