The porto Alegre experiment: Learning lessons for better democracy

Lula's victory at the 2002 presidential elections represented a turning point in the history of Brazil. This event has a very strong symbolic meaning. A former unionist from a poor family background won the most important political office: this is a lesson that goes much beyond the person of Lula. with the title of President, he has received his first diploma-and a certificate of dignity for those millions of Brazilians who, like him, have been educated in the school of life and have not had the opportunity to take advantage of the formal education that is a monopoly of the traditional elite. The Worker's Party's administration includes a lot of people who heave been active in the unions who were in jail or in exile during the dark years of the dictatorship. The circles of those who used to exercise power have been largely marginalized. This is a sign which shows that history is not over : the ideals of justice and democracy still give to the many enough energy and hope to move the borders of the possible. The victory of the Brazilian left objectively puts on the agenda a change of direction in the development of this huge country. It makes it possible to foresee another repartition of wealth and power. Brazil is one of the first ten economies in the world, but the poor have got no more than the crumbs of the affluence. Hunger is still a real problem, both in the poor countryside of the Nordeste and in the cities' favelas. Only an incredible contempt