For the past several months, Brazilian citizens have been going to the streets to protest against the course of the government. Where does the dissatisfaction come from and what are the implications for the World Cup about to take off in 100 days? In an interview with the Westfälische Nachrichten, Felix Dane, Head of the Brazil Office of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, focuses on these issues.

The anger of the demonstrators is not directed at the FIFA, but at the Brazilian government, which does not deliver the big promises made, says Dane. "The FIFA wanted only eight stadiums, twelve were built instead. Why?" In addition, the government has difficulties to complete infrastructure projects and expand public transportation systems. According to Dane, the country wanted to present itself as an emerging Great Power but the population does not join in - instead it is outraged about the high ticket prices for the World Cup.

"Politically only few things have changed"

Dane was surprised by the ferocity of the protests since nothing similar had occurred in the last 20 years. "Initiated through the rise of the public transport prices, the protest spread rapidly over the whole country." First, a prevailing positive mood marked the demonstrations, but then the atmosphere changed. The "black bloc" movement emerged and violent protests have not ceased since.

Ever since the beginning of the protests only few things have changed politically although "a marathon of legislative initiatives has started" says Dane. "But the demonstrators' main points of criticisms, i.e. corruption, poor governmental services and insufficient health care capacities, are fundamental issues which can't be changed from one day to another." Moreover, the government promised to use tax revenues of the just recently discovered presalt oilfields so as to improve the education and health systems. However, to date no oil has been produced from the new sources. "The Brazilian economic growth collapsed and a new impulse is expected by the FIFA World Cup. However, as long as wages rise slower than inflation, the population will remain discontent."

Protests during the World Cup

In Germany the "Sommermärchen" of 2006 ("the German fairy tale", in reference to the successful German World Cup in 2006) lead to a change of atmosphere in the whole country. In Brazil, however, the outgoing position was very different. "Germans were perceived as well-organized, however as a somewhat stiff sort of people. After the World Cup everybody knew that they were also able to host a "good party"." Brazil faces the exact opposite: Brazilians are well known for their parties, but in order to distinguish themselves through a successful World Cup they have to improve their organizational capabilities . "There is this uneasy feeling that things might not turn out well – consequently embarrassing Brazil." The spontaneous reallocation of the final public prayer of the pope has proved that Brazilians do possess a certain talent for improvisation. But what is the Brazilian spontaneity good for, when you are always caught up in traffic jam, wonders Dane.

He further assumes that the protests - particularly as this is an election year - will continue during the World Cup and might even intensify during and after the football event, which distractes from the social problems. "The politicians think: If we turn out football world champion, the national pride of the Brazilians will be satisfied and as such, the people will remain calm. However, I don’t think that this is true", comments Dane.

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