Brazil's Rousseff extends lead over Silva in election poll

[Judi Lynn]

2. Al Jazeera: Is Marina Silva the right choice for Brazil?

Brazil's 'accidental' presidential candidate

Is Marina Silva the right choice for Brazil?

Last updated: 23 Sep 2014 06:45

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Different background


With her background being quite different from the regular ruling elite - a woman of African descent from Amazonia - she has been portrayed favourably by the international media both as a disruptive force and as a welcome departure from the usual suspectsrunning Brazil (Rousseff's workers' party has been in power for more than a decade). Silva has even been depicted as a kind of "green" heroine, all of a sudden popping up on the political field to save Brazil from corruption.

But not all disruption is good. The country's progressives and those who know Silva's past, and her political trajectory, see little to be thankful for should she become the president of Latin America's largest country.

In her early days, Silva worked on a number of projects with Chico Mendes, an environmental activist working to preserve the Amazonian forest. When Mendes was assassinated by a rancher in 1988, Silva appeared on the scene soon after as his "disciple". Her name often appeared with that of Mendes who had become an international martyr.

Yet Silva's environmentalism is questionable. During her time as the minister of environment, she was often criticised for her inability to implement programmes and to mediate effectively between competing interest groups.

Unable to resolve her disagreements with the government and political opponents, she resigned in 2008, after five years of serving in the ministry; an act of frustration which revealed her inability to form political alliances to implement her political agenda.

When Silva presented her proposed governing plan for her campaign, it looked like an improvisation that was hastily put together by combining various doctrines. She was even accused of plagiarism with parts of the doctrine directly taken from other texts.

More:
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2014/09/brazil-accidental-presidential--201492211150907256.html