by PublicABCP
Translated and reviewed by Matheus Lucas Hebling
Published by Autêntica, the book Governo Lula 3: reconstrução democrática e impasses políticos (“The Third Lula Government: Democratic Reconstruction and Political Impasses”), edited by Fábio Kerche (FCRB/UNIRIO) and Marjorie Marona (UNIRIO), brings together more than 50 researchers from different institutions.
The book analyzes the beginning of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s third term, offering a portrait of the challenges the government has faced in its attempt to rebuild state capacities and restore democratic normality. It is worth noting that the book was completed before the midpoint of the current presidential term, limiting itself to an analysis of the government’s first two years.
The central aim of the volume is to examine the effects of the institutional dismantling that took place in previous years and the new government’s efforts to rebuild relations with Congress, the Federal Supreme Court (Supremo Tribunal Federal, STF), the Public Prosecutor’s Office (Ministério Público), and civil society.
The analysis draws on multiple fields of political science, focusing on the interplay between institutional dynamics, governability, and public policy. Without advancing inferences, the chapters concentrate on describing the structural and political conditions that shape the current democratic landscape.
Among the principal findings, the most notable is the identification of a significant shift in the pattern of relations between the Executive and the Legislature. Coalitional presidentialism, as it had operated since redemocratization, has been replaced by a model in which parliamentary support is obtained through ad hoc negotiations and unstable concessions. Congress, strengthened by recent budgetary changes, has expanded its prominence, while the Federal Supreme Court has taken on mediating functions, especially in conflicts over budget execution and in confronting institutional threats.
The book also discusses the limitations encountered in public policy. Although there has been a resumption of programs such as Bolsa Família (Brazil’s conditional cash-transfer program) and a rebuilding of administrative structures, the authors point to obstacles such as fiscal constraints, the fragmentation of the government’s parliamentary base, and resistance from conservative sectors in Congress. Issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and anti-racist policies face significant barriers. At the same time, the far right, even while out of the Executive, remains active, with a strong presence on digital networks and a capacity for social mobilization.
By addressing democratic reconstruction in a context of institutional transition, the book offers relevant elements for understanding the limits and possibilities of the current government. Without proposing solutions, the chapters present a well-grounded diagnosis of the dilemmas of governability in a political environment marked by polarization, conservative pressure, and the need for institutional reconstruction.
In summary:
- The book analyzes the beginning of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s third term.
- It brings together more than 50 researchers from different Brazilian institutions.
- It was completed before the midpoint of the current presidential term.
- It examines the effects of the institutional dismantling that took place under previous governments.
- It discusses the challenges of governability in a context of a strengthened Congress and political polarization.
- It points to obstacles to the implementation of public policies, especially in the areas of health, education, and racial and gender equality.
- It describes the persistent activity of the far right, even while out of the Executive.
About the Editors
Fábio Kerche completed his education at the University of São Paulo (Universidade de São Paulo, USP): an undergraduate degree in Social Sciences and master’s and doctoral degrees in Political Science, with a research stay at New York University (NYU). He is a professor at the Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, UNIRIO); he was a senior researcher (pesquisador titular) at the Casa de Rui Barbosa Foundation (Fundação Casa de Rui Barbosa) and a research fellow at the Center for Latin American and Latino Studies (CLALS) at American University in Washington, DC.
Marjorie Marona is a professor in the Department of Political Science at the Faculty of Philosophy and Human Sciences of the Federal University of Minas Gerais (DCP/FAFICH/UFMG). She coordinates the Observatory of Justice in Brazil and Latin America (OJb-AL/UFMG) and is a researcher at the Institute of Democracy and the Democratization of Communication (INCT/IDDC). She holds a PhD in Political Science from UFMG (2013) and a master’s degree in Philosophy of Law from UFMG (2004).
Publication Details
Title: Governo Lula 3: reconstrução democrática e impasses políticos [“The Third Lula Government: Democratic Reconstruction and Political Impasses”]
Editors: Fábio Kerche and Marjorie Marona
Publisher: Autêntica
Year of publication: 2025
ISBN: 978-6559285419
Available at: Amazon
