There was no denying that once one of the main floats of Rio’s Carnival featured a vampire in a presidential sash and a suit made of dollar bills, or when a giant rat pulled another allegory depicting the headquarters of Petrobras, Brazil’s corrupt oil entity, as a favela, or when the dancers portrayed government officials dressed as wolves in sheep’s clothing.
Carnival would not be immune to the deep frustration felt by Brazilians regarding their political class. With Brazil emerging from its worst recession in at least a century and a historic corruption scandal still dividing the public, the festivities offered Brazilians more than an escape from daily life. They were a platform that mixed joy with protest.
While Carnival in Brazil has always pushed joy, this year’s celebration, which ended on February 14, saw a tonal shift different from previous years.
Even before the start of Carnival, it was clear that political tensions would arise during the five-day event. The bluntness occurred early in Carnival when the organizers of an “anti-communist” street block named the group after the police agency “Dops” that tortured dissidents during Brazil’s last military regime. A judge ordered it to be canceled before the block took to the streets.
This political polarization has become more entrenched since former president Dilma Rousseff was impeached in 2016. With a presidential election less than eight months away, Carnival may have been just a test for what is to come. Footage of revelers chanting the name of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva highlighted the level of support that the former president and possible candidate still possesses. His popularity is such that the latest
poll found that one-third of voters say they will vote blank or null if he cannot run in the October election.
Few established politicians stir this passion. In fact, the same poll found that disillusionment with Brazilian politicians has reached the point where 96% of voters do not believe any politician in office represents them.
It is no surprise, then, that many Brazilians feel compelled to speak about issues that politicians 
often do not, such as racism, violence, and misogyny.
The samba school Paraíso do Tuiuti in Rio did this in its performance, which included references to slavery while performing a song that asked if slavery has really ended in Brazil.
Unfortunately, crime out of control in Brazil also spilled into Carnival, both on stage – the winning samba school represented a shooting in a favela – and off. Robberies, assaults, and gang violence marred the festivities, which involved fewer police than in previous years.
In São Paulo, a feminist block with an all-female band made calls to make Carnival and Brazil safer for women.
ISAURA LA COUR
Journalist and editor
isaurathebrasilians@gmail.com