Unfortunately, Simon Romero (the reporter), forgot to mention some crucial facts regarding Senator Amaral, i.e., he was appointed for several positions during governments which were previous to the current Worker's Party administration. Both former presidents Itamar Franco & Fernando Henrique Cardoso (PSDB) appointed him powerful positions in their governments. In 1994 he held one of the highest jobs in the Ministry of Mines and Energy and in the end of Itamar's presidency he was appointed Minister of Energy. During Fernando Henrique's government he was director of Gás & Energy at Petrobrás (2000-2001). Extremely odd that the reporter would write such a long story about the Senator Amaral and forget facts that can be found via a basic web search...
6
"....new anticorruption legislation allowing defendants to reduce their jail sentences in exchange for information, helping prosecutors jail one powerful figure after another." Something other governments serious (?) about tackling high level corruption could usefully follow too.
1
To say that the PT government took thousands of poverty is a con . What it did was develop a successful welfare policy at the expense of tax crimes , which guarantees votes. We are the country that pays more taxes in the world. At the same time we don't have our rights guaranteed in the Constitution , such as health , education and security . For the first time in our history , especially because of a courage judge, we can see a change.
1
Mr. Romero, congratulations. This is an excellent summary, well balanced and showing a high skill level. Really what one expects from the NYT. My question to you is only one, how can you manage a country with 38 parties in a clean way?? Any substantial solution would probably need a change in the constitution to limit parties in parliament which have at least 5% or more of the total votes. Otherwise, the show might go on in a similar way....rs. I know this is not easy but may be essential for better governance.
This government committed not one but hundreds of crimes amounting to hundreds of billions, perhaps even over a trillion dollars stolen from the very poor people they claim to support.
the Federal Court of Accounts unanimously found that Dilma's accounts breached the law of fiscal responsibility. There are documents signed by Dilma releasing illegal credits! We have fiscal operations and fiscal results that are clearly defrauded.
But that is only the beginning - Petrobras, as well as other 'state' companies became the cash cow for the party (and for personal offshore accounts as well) - an infinite source of cash from the brazilian people/taxpayers in the billions.
Like most other corrupt socialist corrupt governments - they delapidated and stole from the economy to the point that left it in tatters. Just take a look at the immense value destruction and political corruption in Venezuela and Argentina.
Finally the article fails to mention the latest assassinations and 'fires' that are taking place in order to destroy trails, files and possible leads.
This is not a government; this is a mafia system.
the Federal Court of Accounts unanimously found that Dilma's accounts breached the law of fiscal responsibility. There are documents signed by Dilma releasing illegal credits! We have fiscal operations and fiscal results that are clearly defrauded.
But that is only the beginning - Petrobras, as well as other 'state' companies became the cash cow for the party (and for personal offshore accounts as well) - an infinite source of cash from the brazilian people/taxpayers in the billions.
Like most other corrupt socialist corrupt governments - they delapidated and stole from the economy to the point that left it in tatters. Just take a look at the immense value destruction and political corruption in Venezuela and Argentina.
Finally the article fails to mention the latest assassinations and 'fires' that are taking place in order to destroy trails, files and possible leads.
This is not a government; this is a mafia system.
5
excellent comment, I could not agree more with your view. The Lula, Dilma associates from the PT in combination with the heads of many big Brazilian companies like Odebrecht stole the country's future. Many generations especially of the lower and middle classes will have to cope with the negative consequences. The PT miracle was all smoke and mirrors, now the chicken have come home to roost...
1
Reading this, and I confess that I have no experience with Brazil. It sounds like the whole system is corrupt - including those in power and the opposition. Even if this scandal brings down some of the corrupt it seems that there are more to take their place. It almost sounds like Brazil is doomed.
not all, but rather political system, but not judiciary
1
Thank you for this clear article that sticks to data and facts more than anything.
I hope Brazil finds a way to come out of this corruption culture that exists here. For as long as I have been alive it is a known fact that corruption and getting one over someone are just facts of common life here.
The police are getting better ( I HOPE IT CONTINUES FOR ALL OF US!! ) Education and Transportation are a joke. Working people pay one of the highest taxes rate in the world to benefit from NONE of it, all falls in pockets of political CRIMINALS, that never suffer consequences...THERE IS GOTTA BE A 70 to 90% removal of all THIS DESPICABLE human beings.
I hope Brazil can live to its foolest and benefit and enjoy all the marvelous aspects of its culture and beauty!
The song actually goes:
The King of Spades is falling,
The King of Diamonds is falling,
The King of Clubs is falling,
They’re all falling,
Nothing remains.
I hope Brazil finds a way to come out of this corruption culture that exists here. For as long as I have been alive it is a known fact that corruption and getting one over someone are just facts of common life here.
The police are getting better ( I HOPE IT CONTINUES FOR ALL OF US!! ) Education and Transportation are a joke. Working people pay one of the highest taxes rate in the world to benefit from NONE of it, all falls in pockets of political CRIMINALS, that never suffer consequences...THERE IS GOTTA BE A 70 to 90% removal of all THIS DESPICABLE human beings.
I hope Brazil can live to its foolest and benefit and enjoy all the marvelous aspects of its culture and beauty!
The song actually goes:
The King of Spades is falling,
The King of Diamonds is falling,
The King of Clubs is falling,
They’re all falling,
Nothing remains.
If you look at the official numbers from the first five years of the PT government - that now lasts 14 - you'd think they did help out the poor.
But when you look at the crisis Brazil is going through right now, where we have the highest unemployment rate of the last 20 years, a spiraling down negative gross domestic product (GDP) when every other country in South America is positive, you start to understand the mess they have put the country in.
PT didn't help out the poor. They gave money away irresponsibly, while they took a lot more for themselves, and now the country is the way it is. They have also changed the way social classes are measured for the first in Brazil democratic history, taking a lot of people out of the poverty line by considering many of those who were poor, not poor anymore.
Their government also considers those who are on welfare payments, to be employed, even if they don't have a job - and most likely they don't. Why would you consider someone who doesn't have a job to be employed, just because they receive payments from the government.
Then people come here and say they helped out the poor...
I wonder if you Americans consider people who don't have a job and receive welfare payments to be employed. PT and Dilma do. And even with all this make up, the unemployment numbers are the worst in decades.
But when you look at the crisis Brazil is going through right now, where we have the highest unemployment rate of the last 20 years, a spiraling down negative gross domestic product (GDP) when every other country in South America is positive, you start to understand the mess they have put the country in.
PT didn't help out the poor. They gave money away irresponsibly, while they took a lot more for themselves, and now the country is the way it is. They have also changed the way social classes are measured for the first in Brazil democratic history, taking a lot of people out of the poverty line by considering many of those who were poor, not poor anymore.
Their government also considers those who are on welfare payments, to be employed, even if they don't have a job - and most likely they don't. Why would you consider someone who doesn't have a job to be employed, just because they receive payments from the government.
Then people come here and say they helped out the poor...
I wonder if you Americans consider people who don't have a job and receive welfare payments to be employed. PT and Dilma do. And even with all this make up, the unemployment numbers are the worst in decades.
2
Unfortunately Lula and Dilma ruined Brasil. Lula, another populist crock with his pet are what is worst in politics - the evil way.
5
Am I the only one who sees this as a cultural difference that we, in the US, struggle with as well? I meet so many these days with a real contempt for the law and no shame in demonstrating uncivilized behavior. It took a great investment to teach me proper etiquette; what, short of losing a war and having new institutions imposed, would change a region that experienced a different colonial history?
To understand what is going on in Brazil now, we should look at the map of votes in 2014 Dilma's election. Although she had the majority of votes (54 million) she ended up losing in the main economic and political capitals of the federation. It was clear that her government should have looked more carefully to this important fraction of the population that has been unhappy since the end of her last term. Instead of doing that, she simply ignored the complaint of these people that became even noisier and intolerant to any trace of corruption. After the march 13th protests, the greatest ever in Brazil, she insisted on her mistake and decided to go against people's will and named Lula as chief of staff. Now the situation came to a point that no matters whether she will resign or stay, there is no governance.
1
Come on, there is government course.
I respect your opinion but there is no government course at the moment but very dirty negotiation against Dima's impeachment. Less than 20% approval, makes governance very hard for the future.
Former president Lula in an extremely successful government took more than 40 million Brazilian people from poverty. We still have many to be worked out of poverty. Successfull programs addressing the poverty provided minimum finance support to those people, mainly but not only slaves descendants, that allowed than to eat, assured that to receive this assistance they must have their children in school and in good health. This program is internationally known and respected. Other programs support the poor to have access to college education, housing program, health program to assure medical assistance to people leaving in places Brazilian phisycians don't want to work such us slums, Amazon jungle. Others that provided poor people a fair living or almost it. A long way to go in a country like Brazil. Corruption is a way of life to our politics since always. President Lula created the means to investigate and punish the corrupts being politics or executives of companies who pay to achieve their objectives in government contracts. Some people don't like these programs as rather have the country situation as always and the poor in their place as always. Considering what I consider is right as written above I hope justice is made and Brazil may be fair to all citizens.
2
It's kind of tiring to read the same soap by Lula's supporters: "The thriving economy back (in commodities' heydays...) during his presidency (2002-2009)"; "other parties did the same"; "Congressmen accusing the President are corrupt then the whole process is not valid"... To put it straight in a few words:
1. It's the economy, stupid, as usual: we're heading to a GDP drop of -7% in just two years, friends are losing jobs, and the future is still dark for most. No hopes of sunshine, while you learn that one smuggler alone at the Petrobras graft scandal said "OK it is fine to hand back USD 97 million". Outraging.
2. Impeachment is following rules set by the Supreme Court which, on its turn, protects both Deputy Chamber and Senate helmers from endless bribery accusations hence their "privileged forum" status. Therefore any politician involved in kickbacks wishes to "be at the Supreme". Why so, shouldn't it be the last place someone wished to be sentenced at?...
3. For much less former president Collor - since ages a close ally of this Administration - was ousted. Government supporters insist on current President's innocence based on her personal status, saying nothing to the several legal errors that dismantled our economy, in the role of President.
4. As for social redistribution, nothing survives inflation, which resists at the 10%+ level, annually.
The Party's done its own social redistribution: so many millionaires among its helmers.
1. It's the economy, stupid, as usual: we're heading to a GDP drop of -7% in just two years, friends are losing jobs, and the future is still dark for most. No hopes of sunshine, while you learn that one smuggler alone at the Petrobras graft scandal said "OK it is fine to hand back USD 97 million". Outraging.
2. Impeachment is following rules set by the Supreme Court which, on its turn, protects both Deputy Chamber and Senate helmers from endless bribery accusations hence their "privileged forum" status. Therefore any politician involved in kickbacks wishes to "be at the Supreme". Why so, shouldn't it be the last place someone wished to be sentenced at?...
3. For much less former president Collor - since ages a close ally of this Administration - was ousted. Government supporters insist on current President's innocence based on her personal status, saying nothing to the several legal errors that dismantled our economy, in the role of President.
4. As for social redistribution, nothing survives inflation, which resists at the 10%+ level, annually.
The Party's done its own social redistribution: so many millionaires among its helmers.
5
If the majority of poor people votes for PT (Worker´s Party), why woul PT ends poverty?
2
Here, from Brazil, I see that we are ORPHANS OF TRUE NATIONAL LEADERS!
Today, decades after the campaign "Direct Elections Now", I see that in Brazilian politics there is not a single respectable leader able to conduct dialogue aimed at the recover of general confidence, both economic and political. Nobody trusts politicians in Brazil.
Now, each pseudo-leader is mediocre, selfish, petty... and DISHONEST.
Not only that, the political practice in Brazil comes down to only one thing: "If I give you this, what will you give me in return?"
We need a profound political reform ...
But how to do this with a rotten Congress?
With no perspective, there is no escape: everything goes for a backdrop of social upheaval.
Today, decades after the campaign "Direct Elections Now", I see that in Brazilian politics there is not a single respectable leader able to conduct dialogue aimed at the recover of general confidence, both economic and political. Nobody trusts politicians in Brazil.
Now, each pseudo-leader is mediocre, selfish, petty... and DISHONEST.
Not only that, the political practice in Brazil comes down to only one thing: "If I give you this, what will you give me in return?"
We need a profound political reform ...
But how to do this with a rotten Congress?
With no perspective, there is no escape: everything goes for a backdrop of social upheaval.
9
It´s very easy to see that conventional democracy doesn´t work in Brazil.
Congress itself issued a Constitution (1988) that made the country ungovernable.
We need a strong central government, somebody (maybe 6, 7 people) who can restore authority (not authoritarism), and get rid of a Congress whose members care only for their own personal interests. Maybe this way we could have a new constituition, made by the people, not by Congress.
Congress itself issued a Constitution (1988) that made the country ungovernable.
We need a strong central government, somebody (maybe 6, 7 people) who can restore authority (not authoritarism), and get rid of a Congress whose members care only for their own personal interests. Maybe this way we could have a new constituition, made by the people, not by Congress.
1
I wanted to ask the ignorant defending the labor party (PT) or the one-step-close-to-be-impeached Dilma Rousseff, if they chose to get the R$100 or the Mortadella sandwich?
A very well-summarized article, Mr. Romero. And thank you NYT for putting this on the front page and allocating so much space to provide an overview of the current crisis in Brasil, when international coverage, especially coverage of Latin America, has diminished everywhere.
Like pigs at the trough, the corruption touches all parties but especially the Workers' Party (PT) since they have come to power. I have family members who supported PT and voted for Lula the first time he won, but became disgusted with the news of corruption and incompetence by the time of Lula's re-election.
Ending/reducing corruption was a cornerstone of Lula's campaigns as well as attacking the economic/health/educational inequality of the majority of Brasilian citizens. Many of the programs to improve the lives of the poor have succeeded and access to basic services and sufficient food is significantly better than it was in 2003. But corruption has grown exponentially every year -- instead of millions of dollars it's now billions of dollars.
The opposition party PMDB is involved in the corruption, too, and to think/hope that Vice President Temer will be an improvement is fanciful. Perhaps it's more constitutional to have Dilma fulfill her term (without Lula as her "chief of staff"). And allow the courts to continue the investigations into all the corruption allegations, including of those with immunity in Congress and other top officials.
Like pigs at the trough, the corruption touches all parties but especially the Workers' Party (PT) since they have come to power. I have family members who supported PT and voted for Lula the first time he won, but became disgusted with the news of corruption and incompetence by the time of Lula's re-election.
Ending/reducing corruption was a cornerstone of Lula's campaigns as well as attacking the economic/health/educational inequality of the majority of Brasilian citizens. Many of the programs to improve the lives of the poor have succeeded and access to basic services and sufficient food is significantly better than it was in 2003. But corruption has grown exponentially every year -- instead of millions of dollars it's now billions of dollars.
The opposition party PMDB is involved in the corruption, too, and to think/hope that Vice President Temer will be an improvement is fanciful. Perhaps it's more constitutional to have Dilma fulfill her term (without Lula as her "chief of staff"). And allow the courts to continue the investigations into all the corruption allegations, including of those with immunity in Congress and other top officials.
10
Its a shame we don't have more Brazilians that think the way you do to equalize the negative propaganda against Dilma that the public has come to believe as true. What is clearly lacking from all politicians is the political will to resolve and lead the country out of this economic crisis, especially now that millions of Brazilians have fallen ill due to the dangerous health epidemics that are compounding the political issues. God Bless Brazil.
1
Corruption was always an evil in Brazil but the PT to institutionalized under the pretext of perpetuation in power. With control of state-owned Petrobras size of eg, allied parties and populism, it was easy for the government, the manipulation of large contractors that provide services to companies and thus finance the gap. Judge Sergio Moro got the support of the people and now 8 out of 10 Brazilians support the impeachment and the work of Operation Lava jet controlled by it. Are separate parts but are interconnected every day, every minute with new and new revelations. Brazil lost its credibility gained in governments past the hard-downs, the coming economic stability with the Real Plan in the FHC government and the resumption of growth, they are now threatened by mismanagement and the inertia that dominates the nation. This government has no more reason to exist and a management shock is needed in the country and prevent chaos. There is no coup to speak members of the government and the militants. There is a legal and constitutional contrivance called impeachment. Worse is that more revelations are yet to come. God bless Brazil and its beautiful people, honest and hardworking.
2
Two gaffes: Dilma, the well known revolutionary and political prisoner from the sixties, was hardly "obscure." And use of the word, "quinceañera" plays to the widespread misconception that people in Brazil speak Spanish.
You are wrong about one thing: "quinceañera" has NOTHING to do with the fact they might think we speak Spanish. The thing is: As "saudade" in Brazilian Portuguese, quinceañera has no translation to English and it's the closest term to "Debutantes" in our language. That being said, Americans use the word quinceañera to describe a 15 year-old party, just like Brazilians use the word "Milkshake" to describe a mix of milk and ice cream and it doesn't mean we are English speakers :)
Mr . Hodel - You nare ABSOLUTELY wrong. It seems to me that you are not aware of anything about Brazilian politics. The PT never ever, even in the first day after inauguration, thought about the poor. The only goal was perpetuation as governors. That's all that matters. As time went by and Dilma saw that the PT time was over , she promised, and worst - did, "o diabo para continuar no poder" ( the hell to continue in power. Mr Romero article is almost perfect. At las but not least sorry about my poor english
3
The NY Times merits a compliment for the time and care that obviously went into this effort. However, it should be noted that this otherwise praiseworthy article unfortunately reiterates what can, at this point, be considered to be a pattern in the way the paper has been reporting on the crisis, consistently downplaying some of its most crucial and divisive elements. These are, number one, the central fact that numerous legal experts unaffiliated with any political parties consider that the fiscal manoeuvres of Dilma's government, even if they may be considered illegal (a topic in itself controversial), do not meet the definitions stipulated in the Brazilian constitution of the crimes that may be a legitimate ground for impeachment; the additional fact that these same manoeuvres have been widely adopted both by preceding presidents and by many current state governors; and, finally, what many here perceive to be the partisan behaviour not only of judge Sergio Moro, as the text briefly acknowledges, but also of the mainstream media. Brazil ranks 99 on Reporters Without Borders' Press Freedom Ranking, partly due to the extreme concentration of its media ownership. Any account of the crisis which ignores the role of the Brazilian media plutocracy in the current situation unfortunately ends up painting a very partial picture of what's happening in Brazil.
2
Brazil is governed by thieves to 14 years. The PT (Government political party) broken mirror of communism in Brazil, wants to incite civil war at this time. Dilma is a criminal, she and former President Lula, heads the gang of thieves. The federal police already have evidence but the two commanders interfere in the investigations because it has power over the Supreme Judicial Court. Robbed-billion-dollar Petrobras (Brazil’s state-controlled oil company). I want my country back! Help us please USA!
2
All of this political wrangling will be a footnote in history is Brazil's leaders do not come together to fight Zika and the other mosquito-born viruses!
2
Pots running around calling the kettle black is a pretty accurate way of characterizing these events. The sight of a gang of slimy grafters donning the cloak of self-righteous piety to attack a slightly less slimy gang of grafters is the most spectacular example of hypocrisy we've seen in some time. It's sad that once in power the PT adapted to the Brazilian norm of corruption, betraying their commitments to socialism and reform, but as others have pointed out it also lifted millions of Brazilians out of poverty for the first time. That made it popular with the majority of Brazilians, but not with the utterly corrupt Brazilian capitalist class. It is this class and it's equally corrupt political representatives that have been unable to defeat the PT coalition democratically after 15 years of trying that is now taking advantage of the scandal and the economic downturn to stage a bloodless coup against the PT. I must say that Mr. Romero's reportage from Brazil has always rather unabashedly represented the viewpoint of this class, and as such he is a singularly unreliable source of understanding of Brazilian history and politics for the Times' readers.
3
Sir, with due respect, if you consider buying a flat screen tv and a new cellphone as being taken off poverty...
Unfortunately the illiteracy didn't decrease, the education did not get better, all those poor people still leave in precarious house with almost none or no sanitation at all. All the public hospitals are being closed or near it, Federal and State Universities are for most of the year on strikes. Transportation hasn't improved and makes me sad to think about all those "out of poverty" going and coming from work. Have you been on a Brazilian Public Transportation bus or train?
I am not sure when was your last time in Brazil or if you even been there but just the sight of our streets children and the state of our public schools are enough to make anyone discredit this government. The PARTIDO DOS TRABALHADORES (The Workers Party) should represent all workers and TRULY give it back to the citizens.
Unfortunately the illiteracy didn't decrease, the education did not get better, all those poor people still leave in precarious house with almost none or no sanitation at all. All the public hospitals are being closed or near it, Federal and State Universities are for most of the year on strikes. Transportation hasn't improved and makes me sad to think about all those "out of poverty" going and coming from work. Have you been on a Brazilian Public Transportation bus or train?
I am not sure when was your last time in Brazil or if you even been there but just the sight of our streets children and the state of our public schools are enough to make anyone discredit this government. The PARTIDO DOS TRABALHADORES (The Workers Party) should represent all workers and TRULY give it back to the citizens.
6
I've been to Brazil 3 times, the last time in 2005, so it's been a while. I miss Brazil and it's wonderful culture, music and people. Despite it's past accomplishments I can no longer defend this government. I agree with you, Monica, that the PT has betrayed it's working class and poor constituency, and as a result discredited itself with the people that originally elected it to office. I know from personal observation how heartbreaking poverty is in your country. Unfortunately the political opposition actually represents a far worse alternative, and I suspect that is also clear to many Brazilians. This leaves people in a very demoralized and weakened position that discourages them from mobilizing against the Brazilian right and it's middle and upper class supporters. A new political force must be constructed on the left in order to defend the needs and aspirations of the majority. Sadly, that is easy to say but very hard and time-consuming to do, as I know from my own experience as an American. We have not solved this problem here in the US, so I can't afford to be self-righteous about the difficult struggles ahead for the Brazilian working class. As always I support Brazilian workers, in the countryside and in the city, in their struggle for justice and freedom. I sincerely wish them good luck and ultimate victory, and I wish for you a country that you can be proud of. I wish the same for myself.
1
It is a fascinating note that the investigators considered the code name Catiline, which evidences a breathtaking lack of self-awareness and historical understanding on their part. First of all, it has utterly inauspicious connotations. Secondly, it has implications of class conflict with unflattering comparisons to the lines drawn between classes and political parties in Brazil at the present.
Roussef doesn't deserve any minute of criticism pause.
During the elections she painted a beatiful future for brazil and made her opponents as the devil figures sent to destroy this 'social legacy' that they claim had created (in my opinion, it happened because they got lucky, the commodities cicle was on fire when they were there and with the fiscal policy on blue).
So, if the society is divided, its because during those elections, they spent a lot of unethical method to win and how our country has low educational level, poor people got scared to loose some 'state care' help. Unfortunately their loosing now, with unploymment going to the skies because she not able to do sturcrual reforms that the country needs. WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE.
During the elections she painted a beatiful future for brazil and made her opponents as the devil figures sent to destroy this 'social legacy' that they claim had created (in my opinion, it happened because they got lucky, the commodities cicle was on fire when they were there and with the fiscal policy on blue).
So, if the society is divided, its because during those elections, they spent a lot of unethical method to win and how our country has low educational level, poor people got scared to loose some 'state care' help. Unfortunately their loosing now, with unploymment going to the skies because she not able to do sturcrual reforms that the country needs. WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE.
1
Lula, Dilma and PT just came to steal public money for themselves and to to secure the party in the Power. PT stole money to win elections until 2050.
2
Why is this a surprise to anyone? The deeply endemic top to bottom social and political cultures of Southern Europe that were transferred to Latin America during colonization were and still are fundamentally murderous and corrupt. So of course a simple change in the individuals in government jobs, no matter what name they give their party, does not change much. "Passion" Southern European societies allow all manner of violence and theft as de facto legal as a kind of oblique justification of conservative Catholic doctrine that everyone is a sinner, and so in need of salvation. If people in these societies were expected to follow the law, and did, this would greatly reduce the power and authority of the individual rights denying, abusing, thieving from the majority power elites in these societies. A society in violent anarchy and corrupt disfunction much of the time, the cultivation of an ignorant murderous mob by elites via little law enforcement, justifies authoritarian none democratic governance and this has been the Machiavellian manipulation formula that has been used by the descendants of Cortez to stay in power for 500 years.
1
As opposed to the peaceful and ethical English colonizers around the world? LOLOLOLOLOL
Some thoughts from a Brazilian:
1- Workers Party was and is by far the most committed government with social discrepancies and Brazil and this was some years ago the main reason for shame for the nation in face of the developed world
2- Most of powerful economic sectors took advantage of Brazilian boosted economy when it was working well and did not blame the government or the party in the power for some misconduct
3- The workers Party did pact with powerful contractors to assure incomes to their expensive campaigns and to stay indefinitely in power
4- The ex president Mr. Lula did get benefits for his personal life from contractors, nothing that bring him to a status of "rich" men (and not different from the ones before him and other politicians do along their career)
5- The current president Ms. Rossef is not so bad as is told by opponents but most likely will not be able to stand with such a pressure from such strong alignment between communication media, Justice sectors and conservatives, that really do not accept a leftist group ruling the country. Left party was never accepted as "normal" in the power and leading the nation by the conservatives
6- The impeachment is legal, but it´s being used as a "legalized" tool to take out of power someone who has not incurred in illegal pratices
1- Workers Party was and is by far the most committed government with social discrepancies and Brazil and this was some years ago the main reason for shame for the nation in face of the developed world
2- Most of powerful economic sectors took advantage of Brazilian boosted economy when it was working well and did not blame the government or the party in the power for some misconduct
3- The workers Party did pact with powerful contractors to assure incomes to their expensive campaigns and to stay indefinitely in power
4- The ex president Mr. Lula did get benefits for his personal life from contractors, nothing that bring him to a status of "rich" men (and not different from the ones before him and other politicians do along their career)
5- The current president Ms. Rossef is not so bad as is told by opponents but most likely will not be able to stand with such a pressure from such strong alignment between communication media, Justice sectors and conservatives, that really do not accept a leftist group ruling the country. Left party was never accepted as "normal" in the power and leading the nation by the conservatives
6- The impeachment is legal, but it´s being used as a "legalized" tool to take out of power someone who has not incurred in illegal pratices
7
Reading the comments here, I noticed at least one of the commentators seems to be from Brazil's VEM (Virtual Environment Militancy). These are fake profiles (bots) created to swindle public opinion and to sometimes to soil the reputation of content writers. The repeated comments (spam) just give it away.
3
I notice that too. Some of those commentors talk exactly the same things and the same arguments, they probably part of that crew.
1
I don't see any 'fake' profiles in this comment section as you state. What I do see here is that the majority of commentators have been brainwashed by Globo and the media, hence, repeated comments are necessary to reveal the truth of what is really occurring to our southern neighbor that deserves much better from all of its politicians, and the USA. You appear to working for the elites or the opposition party that want to get into power, as is obvious from your knowledge of the VEM. I am by no means an extremist when it comes to politics, in or out of Brazil. Again, what needs to be told is the truth, and why the opposition within Brazil wants Dilma to suffer a coup, nothing more, nothing less!
1
I find it funny when I read comments from supporters of Ms. Rousseff and Mr. da Silva. The same discourse is seen in all blogs around the world and especially in Brazil when you mention these two. Starting with "Mr. da Silva has lifted millions out of poverty," "Corruption is widespread among all parties", "All political parties have slush fund", "The accused are warriors of the people" and so on. They say the same things always trying to justify the unjustifiable. But they do not give assertive responses when confronted with the hard facts, proven and investigated. The answer is the same litany: "There won’t be a coup".
14
Don't even bother with those people, they are so brainwashed there's no point. God has not forgotten Brazi, and this bunch of criminals will soon be out of this country. We will give them no rest. I also love them posing as americans, it's cute at best and ridiculous at worse.
1
"In Congress, lawmakers accused of immense personal corruption are speeding up the impeachment process of the president, who has not been tainted with claims of illicit personal enrichment."
So far it seems every Brazilian politician - from every party - is personally corrupt, except Rouseff. Yet she supported opportunistic systemic corruption.
The good thing about all this is that the media and judicial branches are working in the public interest. So ultimately, it's all for the best.
So far it seems every Brazilian politician - from every party - is personally corrupt, except Rouseff. Yet she supported opportunistic systemic corruption.
The good thing about all this is that the media and judicial branches are working in the public interest. So ultimately, it's all for the best.
4
Where are the speeches of former President Lula, Mr. Juan Swift? I want to see the videos?
1
The truth is that most(almost all) of Brazil's political elite is involved in these endless corruption scandals. What we get to know throught the press is only a small fraction of the reality, since corruption became part of daily life in Brazilian politics and public administrations, from municicpal administrations to the federal government. There has always been corruption in Brazil, but it grew too much after the end of the Military Regime. All the Military Presidents left only an apartment and a pension to the widow and had no billionaire children. That's one of the reasons why I miss that period. But the main problem today is not even the corruption(though it is a serious problem). the main problem is the performance of the Brazilian economy. We go to bed without knowing what we will do in the near future to feed our children! You can suddenly lose your job or see your business collapse. I pray every day to God to get dilma, lula and the workde's party out ot the way as soon as possible, so a new government can start getting our economy back on track before it's too late for that. It's simply impossible to fix the Brazilian economy with them in power. That's the worst of all.
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100% politicians in Brazil are in this web! Is a big and a historic problem. And begin when citizens sell their votes.
Enlighten me, please. Why is corruption and morality such a problem in Central and South America? Through our local junior college, we adopt students from foreign countries. This year our two students are from Venezuela and Honduras. These countries are basket cases. The student from Honduras tells me that parents are afraid to let their children go out to play for fear of crime. Thus, Honduran children are fat. I am not kidding. What are the cultural foundations that cause such a terrible life for people?
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" There has always been corruption in Brazil, but it grew too much after the end of the Military Regime"
You are right Mr.Schanner. You repeated something that PRC (Paulo Roberto Costa, another "delator") said in front of the Judge in Curitiba a year or so ago. At that time I agreed with his statement and you just ratified it!
Another interesting thing that many in the press and politics do not mention is our outdated labor laws and the Labor court filled with highly paid crocodile tear shedding judges for whom even the small entrepreneur is a "capitalistic pig"!!
BTW, I think Mr.Amaral also went into a "power trip" like Mr.PRC did and both are paying the price!!!
You are right Mr.Schanner. You repeated something that PRC (Paulo Roberto Costa, another "delator") said in front of the Judge in Curitiba a year or so ago. At that time I agreed with his statement and you just ratified it!
Another interesting thing that many in the press and politics do not mention is our outdated labor laws and the Labor court filled with highly paid crocodile tear shedding judges for whom even the small entrepreneur is a "capitalistic pig"!!
BTW, I think Mr.Amaral also went into a "power trip" like Mr.PRC did and both are paying the price!!!
Brazil is Fruit Salad Republic. It's too big to be just a Banana Republic.
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Each of us wakes up daily with the ability to choose Good over Evil. That is kind of what separates us from the animal kingdom where all choices are made by instinct and there is no right or wrong. When we rationalize our action to justify selfish desires, we're abrogating this God-given responsibility. I believe Jesus said it best, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life[ will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?" - Matthew 16:24-26
There is great freedom in denying ourselves and doing the right thing because it is the right thing. We should not neglect to teach this to our children.
There is great freedom in denying ourselves and doing the right thing because it is the right thing. We should not neglect to teach this to our children.
"...bribes to executives who in turn channeled money into the campaigns of parties...Nearly 40 politicians, business moguls and black-market money dealers have been jailed since, and the list is expected to grow, with prosecutors investigating suspects including the leaders of both chambers of Congress."
Those stupid Brazilians. If they followed our example they could make buying politicians legal, and even give the buyers cabinet positions. Don't they know if you make corruption legal, nobody goes to jail? Ain't America great!
Those stupid Brazilians. If they followed our example they could make buying politicians legal, and even give the buyers cabinet positions. Don't they know if you make corruption legal, nobody goes to jail? Ain't America great!
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You got this one right!! Finally somebody who is awake.
Even lobbies aren't legal in Brazil, they don't even have a civilian NRA to support their small hand weapons industry.
Endemic is dengue. Political corruption in Brazil, as the Lava-Jato Operation has shown abundantly, is systemic. It's centrally planned, programmed and executed, with a feedback seldom found in other "government initiatives".
What distinguishes the Lava-Jato MegaScandal from previous cases of political corruption is the massive, industrial scale of the robbery. In addition to the billions of dollars stolen from the state-controlled oil company, Petrobrás, public moneys have been misused in other government enterprises, pension funds, publicly-owned banks and the Federal Treasure itself.
Don't blame the judge that has uncovered this sort of financial carnaval for the economic chaos taking place in Brazil, already cursed by the lean cows associated with the inexorable business cycle. Don't blame it on Rio, either. It's the systemic political corruption, stupid!
What distinguishes the Lava-Jato MegaScandal from previous cases of political corruption is the massive, industrial scale of the robbery. In addition to the billions of dollars stolen from the state-controlled oil company, Petrobrás, public moneys have been misused in other government enterprises, pension funds, publicly-owned banks and the Federal Treasure itself.
Don't blame the judge that has uncovered this sort of financial carnaval for the economic chaos taking place in Brazil, already cursed by the lean cows associated with the inexorable business cycle. Don't blame it on Rio, either. It's the systemic political corruption, stupid!
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For the first time in Brazilian history, corruption is finally being investigated by a PT President, and ex-President Lula who started the criminal investigations!
The elites and opposition have never investigated corruption, they have historically ignore it.
The judge did not uncover anything new, what he did is that he used the biased investigation against Lula and Dilma to benefit the elites and the opposition, in an attempt to legitimize their coup.
The elites and opposition have never investigated corruption, they have historically ignore it.
The judge did not uncover anything new, what he did is that he used the biased investigation against Lula and Dilma to benefit the elites and the opposition, in an attempt to legitimize their coup.
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And why is political corruption such a terrible problem in Central and South America?
Indicted Senator Delcidio Amaral has no credibilty to accuse anyone of anything. More importantly, he cannot prove any of his false accusations against President Dilma or ex-president Lula. Why? Because he doesn't have evidence that any of his accusations are just that, accusations.
For the NYT to publish his allegations as credible, is absurd and amusing.
For the NYT to publish his allegations as credible, is absurd and amusing.
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How this country can be seriously if the ex president (Lula) never works, all he did in his life was Strike...the actual president is a terrorist, she murdered and rob banks on 1980s...The major Justice Court are composed by lawyers, indicated by these presidents, and not by Judges...tell me, just with this facts, how can u have Justice and a Seriously Politics Administration? This Country is a shame for all the world.
Pamela perhaps you should research the facts about Lula before you embarrass yourself making false statements about Lula. The actual President Roussef did not agree with the "Ditadura" and with the help of our own CIA, the military murdered many innocent Brazilian civilians simply for protesting against the government, and depending on your point of view, she cannot be considered a 'terrorist' as she was never convicted of any of the false crimes you allege. Who really committed numerous repressive and terrorist activities against its own citizens was the Brazilian military and intelligence services, with the aid of the USA to allegedly combat communism. According to the Brazilian government, about 457 civilians were murdered, over 50,000 were imprisoned without just cause, and about 20,000 of those were tortured while in custody. Dilma met the same fate while imprisoned.
Your last statement that current Supreme Court Ministers are only lawyers is a requirement, thus, after being nominated by the President and passing approval by Congress, they become Ministers within the Supreme Court, which is tantamount to becoming a Judge. Lula was a metal worker in Sao Paulo when he became a union activist, and was working when this occurred. The reasons he supported many strikes is because the elites did not want to provide higher wages and benefits to their workers. To me, this would be considered work, as was also work when he became the most successful President of Brazil.
Your last statement that current Supreme Court Ministers are only lawyers is a requirement, thus, after being nominated by the President and passing approval by Congress, they become Ministers within the Supreme Court, which is tantamount to becoming a Judge. Lula was a metal worker in Sao Paulo when he became a union activist, and was working when this occurred. The reasons he supported many strikes is because the elites did not want to provide higher wages and benefits to their workers. To me, this would be considered work, as was also work when he became the most successful President of Brazil.
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What is an otherwise thoughtful piece is made into yet another reproduction of accounts that are familiar to those who are following the political developments in Brazil. Here, the author uses Mr. Amaral's plea bargain as his central text of analysis and folds in other events from this perspective. The New York Times had a chance to tell a more nuanced story but resorted (like other major news outlets have done) to privileging the accounts of those who have given plea bargains -- contributing to a narrative that we already know and that has circulated in the national media in Brazil and beyond.
Just think how much more meaningful and compelling (perhaps even historically relevant) this piece could have been if, in the midst of the crisis in Brazil, the author had taken as his starting point Lula's letter to the Supreme Court Justices in the wake of the unfathomable leak of the wiretaps. Indeed, the release of the letter marked such a powerful historical moment where a once eternally optimistic and forward-looking president expressed his grave disillusionment with how democratic institutions that he worked so fiercely -- and effectively -- to build and strengthen were betraying the values that he believed had already been incorporated into their practices.
This could have been foregrounded. Instead the author resorts, like all the other major media outlets, to framing his analysis through the prism of the plea bargains -- a choice that is anything but neutral.
Just think how much more meaningful and compelling (perhaps even historically relevant) this piece could have been if, in the midst of the crisis in Brazil, the author had taken as his starting point Lula's letter to the Supreme Court Justices in the wake of the unfathomable leak of the wiretaps. Indeed, the release of the letter marked such a powerful historical moment where a once eternally optimistic and forward-looking president expressed his grave disillusionment with how democratic institutions that he worked so fiercely -- and effectively -- to build and strengthen were betraying the values that he believed had already been incorporated into their practices.
This could have been foregrounded. Instead the author resorts, like all the other major media outlets, to framing his analysis through the prism of the plea bargains -- a choice that is anything but neutral.
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Good joke.
I would love to know how much money off shore Lula has.
I would bet it is hundreds of millions.
I would bet it is hundreds of millions.
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Lula has no offshore accounts, as does the opposition members who want Dilma out of office. You would lose that bet.
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Something around BRL $53 million (about USD 14 million) in Swiss banks
You must have Lula confused with Nevez, Cunha or Temer. Get your facts straight!
A very light account, with some History mistakes. The Worker's Party never really fought for democracy. They were against direct suffrage in the "Diretas Já" movement, for example.
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That' true. Dilma have never fought against the military governement for democracy, she was fighting for comunism. She robbed and killed for comunism.
PT is not a democracy. PT is not for domocracy.
PT is not a democracy. PT is not for domocracy.
The article misses the whole point because it says only about the Senator Amaral´s point of view. Where are the other facts about Cunha, Gilmar Mendes, Aecio, TV Globo, and the lopsided newsparers?
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It's more than clear that brazil's both society and economic sectors are unsatisfied with the govern and It's lack of governability. Also, It's extremely disappointing to see the Worker's Party (PT) enrolled in this corruption web, once it always claimed that would take corruption out of The government. I have strong arguments to defend The impeachment process - as so I do when I talk to radical members of that party(apparently The few ones who still defend The president and her actions) - but when it comes to The legitimity of The process itself, It's not clear enough to say that what she did(what is actually being investigated and voted in The impeachment process) was actually a crime. It's so sad to see my country in this position and I hope we can find a democratic and reasonable solution to this crisis.
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Brazil's Worker's Party (PT) should be extinguished. It is so completely demoralized and corrupt I see virtually no possibility of it to continue existing.
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Power corrupts.
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Power as a goal is corruption.
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Undoubtedly the greatest source of corruption on the planet is the nationalized oil company in energy rich countries. In a Kingdom (Saudi Arabia) or Dictatorship (Saddam Hussein's Iraq) the ruling family basically use the billions in oil revenue as a private bank account.
Occasionally, the money is spread a little more evenly, and with purpose, such as Abu Dhabi sharing its wealth with the fossil fuel-less emirates.
Another model involves groups closely aligned with the (ostensibly democratic but in reality one party) state, such as the handful of loyal oligarchs in Putin's Russia or the Revolutionary Guards in Iran.
In Third World style "democracies" (Nigeria, Angola), there are more steps involved, but billions are still stolen by a few, at the expense of the nation.
Thus it was probably always a pipe dream that Brazil (and most likely Mexico) would escape the curse of the Nationalized Oil Company as political fund source. There is just too much money generated by that sector, with its lopsided weight in the overall economy.
Even in the U.S., the oil giants carry out sized political influence. U.S. taxpayer subsidies to the super wealthy oil companies -- granted during some long forgotten dip -- once grandfathered into their revenue streams (and therefore factored into their share prices) can never be removed.
For Brazil, probably the best answer is to break up and privatize Petrobras into a dozen or so domestic/foreign joint ventures under close regulation.
Occasionally, the money is spread a little more evenly, and with purpose, such as Abu Dhabi sharing its wealth with the fossil fuel-less emirates.
Another model involves groups closely aligned with the (ostensibly democratic but in reality one party) state, such as the handful of loyal oligarchs in Putin's Russia or the Revolutionary Guards in Iran.
In Third World style "democracies" (Nigeria, Angola), there are more steps involved, but billions are still stolen by a few, at the expense of the nation.
Thus it was probably always a pipe dream that Brazil (and most likely Mexico) would escape the curse of the Nationalized Oil Company as political fund source. There is just too much money generated by that sector, with its lopsided weight in the overall economy.
Even in the U.S., the oil giants carry out sized political influence. U.S. taxpayer subsidies to the super wealthy oil companies -- granted during some long forgotten dip -- once grandfathered into their revenue streams (and therefore factored into their share prices) can never be removed.
For Brazil, probably the best answer is to break up and privatize Petrobras into a dozen or so domestic/foreign joint ventures under close regulation.
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Hi Valentine34, you say that the scandal is the largest in the world. Have you ever heard about corruptos in the Pentagon? In Russia? In China? Please reparasse your statement.
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Besides what Ricardo Marino's clarifications below, which are all extremely to the point, I'd like to add the following:
- The silence Mr. Lula purchased for about US$ 2-3 million was not about vote buying. It was about the murder of his party's mayor of Santo Andre city, Mr. Celso Daniel, which is still unsolved.
- The size of the graft and disruption is unprecedented, with Brazil falling three places in the list of largest economies in the world, and dissipating the wealth created in the last 2 decades and bringing Petrobras, one of the world's 10 largest oil companies, to the brink of bankruptcy. All for the "dream" of making Brazil a communist country along Stalin's lines...
- 4 million Brazilians demonstrated on the streets last months because we do not, as a majority, agree with corruption. More importantly, we see the first signs of a Taxpayer mentality taking hold, with people voicing they expect better public services for the (extremely large) taxes we pay.
- The silence Mr. Lula purchased for about US$ 2-3 million was not about vote buying. It was about the murder of his party's mayor of Santo Andre city, Mr. Celso Daniel, which is still unsolved.
- The size of the graft and disruption is unprecedented, with Brazil falling three places in the list of largest economies in the world, and dissipating the wealth created in the last 2 decades and bringing Petrobras, one of the world's 10 largest oil companies, to the brink of bankruptcy. All for the "dream" of making Brazil a communist country along Stalin's lines...
- 4 million Brazilians demonstrated on the streets last months because we do not, as a majority, agree with corruption. More importantly, we see the first signs of a Taxpayer mentality taking hold, with people voicing they expect better public services for the (extremely large) taxes we pay.
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About Celso Daniel: The Delegado Geral (chief of Civil Police) of São Paulo at the time says otherwise. And remember that he was appointed by and worked under PSDB governments, the staunchest adversaries of PT. See here: http://brasil.elpais.com/brasil/2016/04/02/politica/1459619861_766410.html
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The readers all make valid comments. However:
1) The PT did expand the corruption to the point that they brought down the economy, returning to Poverty many of those they presumably took out of poverty during Lula's reign.
2) They have taken no steps to help the poor -- their constituency. Cut not one of 40 ministries. Not one official job. Yet have cut health and education spending by the billions. And the economy is expected to shrink by 4% for the second year running and the Real has dropped by 70-100% affecting foreign debt held by the government. Just on economic performance alone Dilma and the government should resign. (Yes, the PMDB alternative is hardly better but would be difficult to be worse.)
3) The economic policies of the PT are socialist. I am not a conservative right winger, but the government directing an economy has not worked since Lenin tried it -- see Venezuela. So even if she were honest, her policies would be disastrous. Collect taxes and invest in health and education and infrastructure like a Latin Sweden would be fine. But having the government decide what sectors to invest and protect has always held Brazil back.
4) It is over. The PT can hold on and the country will lose another two years; or it can be honorable and exit, giving a slight chance for recovery. It will not do this and Brazil will maintain its reputation as the country of the future.
Regardless, this scandal has been good to clean the place up a bit.
1) The PT did expand the corruption to the point that they brought down the economy, returning to Poverty many of those they presumably took out of poverty during Lula's reign.
2) They have taken no steps to help the poor -- their constituency. Cut not one of 40 ministries. Not one official job. Yet have cut health and education spending by the billions. And the economy is expected to shrink by 4% for the second year running and the Real has dropped by 70-100% affecting foreign debt held by the government. Just on economic performance alone Dilma and the government should resign. (Yes, the PMDB alternative is hardly better but would be difficult to be worse.)
3) The economic policies of the PT are socialist. I am not a conservative right winger, but the government directing an economy has not worked since Lenin tried it -- see Venezuela. So even if she were honest, her policies would be disastrous. Collect taxes and invest in health and education and infrastructure like a Latin Sweden would be fine. But having the government decide what sectors to invest and protect has always held Brazil back.
4) It is over. The PT can hold on and the country will lose another two years; or it can be honorable and exit, giving a slight chance for recovery. It will not do this and Brazil will maintain its reputation as the country of the future.
Regardless, this scandal has been good to clean the place up a bit.
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Well said.
Milton, thanks for the reply, even if we do not agree. I would have liked to see some cost reduction and less bureaucracy. I personally liked the increase in education spending etc under Lula but it seems they lost their way. If you have an example of where you think I am wrong, I welcome it. Regardless, I respect your opinion and thanks for engaging.
Your comments look like the same that the opposition candidate in Brazil (Aecio Neves) has been spreading all over the country in Brazil.
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The corruption in Brazil is endemic and that's a fact. Brazilians are getting tired of it especially when it comes from the party (PT) that told them that it would fight this corruption and whose leadership turns around and performs the same old.
But what about the US where corruption is legalized on a massive scale and sanctioned by the Supreme Court? Corporations funding super pacs funding candidate campaigns, access to candidates via donations and lobbyists, ignored obvious conflicts of interests with lobbyists inviting state attorney generals to "conventions", senators and US representatives being handed draft laws by lobbyists on behalf of wealthy individuals and corporations? And that's only the tip of the iceberg. What about that people?
Where are Americans in the streets in front of Congress, the Supreme Court and the White House? Why is the american public so apathetic when it comes to the US legalized and organized corruption? Is that the real American exception?
At least the Brazilians go out in mass and protest.
And finally where is the coverage of the Panama papers in the NYT?
But what about the US where corruption is legalized on a massive scale and sanctioned by the Supreme Court? Corporations funding super pacs funding candidate campaigns, access to candidates via donations and lobbyists, ignored obvious conflicts of interests with lobbyists inviting state attorney generals to "conventions", senators and US representatives being handed draft laws by lobbyists on behalf of wealthy individuals and corporations? And that's only the tip of the iceberg. What about that people?
Where are Americans in the streets in front of Congress, the Supreme Court and the White House? Why is the american public so apathetic when it comes to the US legalized and organized corruption? Is that the real American exception?
At least the Brazilians go out in mass and protest.
And finally where is the coverage of the Panama papers in the NYT?
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you are comparing apples and watermelons. Brazil's corruption runs in 10's of Billions, it is a 100.000 fold problem from ours....
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Dear Levy thank you for your response but you are mistaken. The organized legal and Supreme Court sanctioned corruption runs in the trillions in the US. I guess I have my response as to why the US public is so apathetic: they've been blinded by the big special interests.
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As an American who speaks Portuguese fluently, studied Brazil as a graduate student at Yale and has visited Brazil dozens of times, I believe this article completely misses the most important issues related to the current crisis. First, President Rousseff is facing impeachment in a presidential system in a fairly fragile democracy, and yet there are NO credible charges against her. None! Second, former President Lula is supposedly "corrupt" because he has received millions of dollars for speeches since he left office. George H.W. Bush received over a million dollars for one speech, paid for by Rev. Moon. Blair, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, etc, etc, have received far more for speeches. Gerhard Schroder went to work for Gazprom immediately after his term ended. Third, there is incontrovertible evidence that the US supported and helped engineer the 1964 coup in Brazil, which brought 21 years of repressive military rule to the country. Fourth, there is endemic corruption in Brazil, and the political system--like that in the US--is a form of legalized bribery. It needs reform, but those in power, i.e. the legislators who benefit most from it, do not want to reform it. Fifth, the PT granted independence to the judiciary to investigate corruption, something no other party had done. Why is the President, who is accused of no crime, and her party the seemingly exclusive target of the corruption investigation? The PT is the target because they helped lift millions out of poverty.
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Once again committed socialists tell me to ignore the evidence of my own readings and my own eyes because socialists can't be wrong. They have campaigned on the idea that they know better than the rest of us, that they are better than the rest of us. They don't and they aren't.
Hi Juan,
II lived in Brasil for 12 years and had my own business there. I once told the son of a very, very rich banker that they thought one of the Mexican president’s had $100 Million in Swiss bank accounts. His response was “isso é nada.”
Another friend of mine who is a construction contractor (empreiteiro) who builds buildings and roads for the government says there has always been corruption but when PT entered they were like a “cachorro famito.”
Finally I would say, so far I have seen nothing where Dilma profited personally, unlike the majority of politicians taking bribes. This attempt at impeachment for her massaging the books can be seen as a power grab from other greedy politicians. But that investigation can also be seen for Moro to get at PT when it is difficult to get at all the corruption, taking down one person at a time until they finally get to Lula.
You must have heard the stories of what a phenomenal businessman Lula’s son is. How before Lula’s election he was a low-level city worker and today he is a multi-millionaire cattle rancher with an unbelievable amount of cattle.
II lived in Brasil for 12 years and had my own business there. I once told the son of a very, very rich banker that they thought one of the Mexican president’s had $100 Million in Swiss bank accounts. His response was “isso é nada.”
Another friend of mine who is a construction contractor (empreiteiro) who builds buildings and roads for the government says there has always been corruption but when PT entered they were like a “cachorro famito.”
Finally I would say, so far I have seen nothing where Dilma profited personally, unlike the majority of politicians taking bribes. This attempt at impeachment for her massaging the books can be seen as a power grab from other greedy politicians. But that investigation can also be seen for Moro to get at PT when it is difficult to get at all the corruption, taking down one person at a time until they finally get to Lula.
You must have heard the stories of what a phenomenal businessman Lula’s son is. How before Lula’s election he was a low-level city worker and today he is a multi-millionaire cattle rancher with an unbelievable amount of cattle.
2
Juan, because the elites and the opposition are desperate to get back into power and manipulate their way into public acceptance at any cost, so that their attempted coup can have some sort of legitimacy.
Aecio Neves, Eduardo Cunha and Michel Temar and the elites will all profit handsomely if Lula and Dilma are taken out to pasture, and they are convinced that their conspiracy to make that happen will not backfire.
All of the legitimate questions and points made above do an excellent job of bringing up to speed the American public so that they too are not manipulated into believing what is actually going on in Brazil as something that needs to happen because the opposition says so. It does not need to happen because all of the evidence points to the fact that removing Dilma from office now, will do more harm than good to the Brazilian economy, and second, once more, any following Brazilian government appointed or elected will lose all credibility in the eyes of its citizenry, once it becomes clear that most of the economic malaise in Brazil is due to the global price drop of oil, and not due to either Lula's or Dilma's failed economic policies which have mostly succeeded in the last 13 years. The upcoming presidential elections are in 2018, and the opposition simply wants to shorten this time frame, and force this unlawful process now, as if the country will benefit greatly, and therein lies the rub, it will not!
Aecio Neves, Eduardo Cunha and Michel Temar and the elites will all profit handsomely if Lula and Dilma are taken out to pasture, and they are convinced that their conspiracy to make that happen will not backfire.
All of the legitimate questions and points made above do an excellent job of bringing up to speed the American public so that they too are not manipulated into believing what is actually going on in Brazil as something that needs to happen because the opposition says so. It does not need to happen because all of the evidence points to the fact that removing Dilma from office now, will do more harm than good to the Brazilian economy, and second, once more, any following Brazilian government appointed or elected will lose all credibility in the eyes of its citizenry, once it becomes clear that most of the economic malaise in Brazil is due to the global price drop of oil, and not due to either Lula's or Dilma's failed economic policies which have mostly succeeded in the last 13 years. The upcoming presidential elections are in 2018, and the opposition simply wants to shorten this time frame, and force this unlawful process now, as if the country will benefit greatly, and therein lies the rub, it will not!
4
Congrats to Mr. Romero! Brazilians have been fighting for over one year in order to get their country back. Government has been taken by a criminal organisation disguised as "labor party". The whole world must know about Brazilian's biggest corruption scandal ever! S.O.S.
9
I had a friend who spent the last twenty years of his life living in a South-American country (not Brazil) where "bribes, graft and cover-ups" were a way of life and an accepted necessity for negotiating even the simplest forms of daily life -
When I sent my friend a package in the mail, he would go down to the post office to pick it up - only to be told that they were unable to locate it -- that is, until a little "handshake" with the clerk, who - after a "second look" was able to easily find his parcel...
If this type of graft is accepted with a shrug by the general population - imagine what it must be like at the higher ends of government --
When I sent my friend a package in the mail, he would go down to the post office to pick it up - only to be told that they were unable to locate it -- that is, until a little "handshake" with the clerk, who - after a "second look" was able to easily find his parcel...
If this type of graft is accepted with a shrug by the general population - imagine what it must be like at the higher ends of government --
9
A left-wing Brazilian president accepts millions of dollars for speeches before construction magnates. What's wrong with that? Bill Clinton, a progressive Democrat, made millions giving speeches to magnates all over the world while his wife was Secretary of State and considering issues affecting the donors' interests.. And Hillary made millions more giving speeches to Wall Street bankers. As the New York Times will tell you, that's no reason not to support her.
27
I agree. And fortunately, no Republican politicians would ever do anything like that or accept campaign contributions from Wall St. or defense contractors, etc.
They are role models to be sure.
They are role models to be sure.
3
They bought a 40M refinery for 300M, which has over 200M kick backs
1
The problem is that these millions were paid for other reasons than the speeches itself.
And nobody ever went to one these to tell the story.. odd right?
And nobody ever went to one these to tell the story.. odd right?
1
A leftist party that rose to power vowing to stamp out the corruption of a privileged political elite ended up embracing its predecessors’ practices.
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That happens all the time. It is not a failing of leftist parties but rather their feature. The end game of progressive politics is totalitarianism. That is only way they can control all us unruly individuals.
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That happens all the time. It is not a failing of leftist parties but rather their feature. The end game of progressive politics is totalitarianism. That is only way they can control all us unruly individuals.
4
I think this text is a good attempt to sum up the latest political crises in Brazil. But there are more, of course. For example, the acting of Brazilian mass media to influence the population against de left parties, in special against the former president Lula, as well as the selectives federal police operations and Judges that only prosecutes members of Workers Party, when everyone knows in Brazil that all the Brazilian Parties has been involved with some kind of corruption acts. I think NYTimes should include this points in other reports or articles about it.
10
a government doling out contracts and licenses and development rights has a lot of power; this leads to a lot of corruption, often. Populist governments in Venezuela and other nations end up grasping power with a tight, centralized fist. Beware governments seeking to control more and more of an economy.
3
"If women ran things, the world would be so-o much better off."
- American Zeitgeist
- American Zeitgeist
It would be the same. The corrupting influence of power is not limited to one gender.
Michael F, the president of Brazil under threat of impeachment due to this widespread corruption is a woman, Dilma Rousseff. I was being sarcastic.
The main problem of this crisis and the investigations that led to it is that the investigations are very biased. Unfortunately corruption in Brazil is widespread and several parties face allegations of corruption. However, the Brazilian judiciary system seems to be concerned about removing the president and his party. Those who ask for the president's impeachment, are the same who face serious charges of corruption. Behind it all, this is an elite that does not conform to the social ascent of poor in the past decade. As a Brazilian, I hope the justice indiscriminately comes to all of them (accusers and accused).
16
What elite? The 6 milion that protested we all elites? What about Lula's son, that just became the most affluent man in the agroindustrial bussiness? How brainwashed can you be? The people are asking for the impeachment. If you hate the elite so much stop using the internet and go to Cuba.
1
Coitado mineiro, 6 million? Boy your numbers are way off by about five million. What everyone hates is using smoke and mirrors to justify an unlawful coup against President Dilma.
Disappointing, Mr. Romero.
Not a mention about Mr. Amaral past with the PSDB? That many involved says that the Petrobras Schemes date as far as 1993? Do you know that your colleague, the late Paulo Francis was already denouncing it in the 90s?
I'm afraid that you report will be happily used in Brazil as evidence that the Mrs. Roused is toast.
Not a mention about Mr. Amaral past with the PSDB? That many involved says that the Petrobras Schemes date as far as 1993? Do you know that your colleague, the late Paulo Francis was already denouncing it in the 90s?
I'm afraid that you report will be happily used in Brazil as evidence that the Mrs. Roused is toast.
3
Pales in significance to the #uanoil and #panamapapers - how about some coverage on those.
1
Mr. Romero's article attempts the impossible: To provide both accuracy and perspective on a political scenario so dominated by lies and shifting loyalties on all sides that no human mind can grasp it. By emphasizing tales of corrution (heavens!) he misses the forest for the trees. Given that corruption--massive corruption--has always been the context of Brazilinan politics, he fails to mention that the Brazilian Workers Party accomplished a significant redistribution of national income to the poorest Brazilians. That never happened before. If the party had any hopes initially of lessening corruption, they soon dropped that idea and accepted the norm, adapting it to their main goal of providing the poorest Brazilians with opportunities to improve income, health, and education. Of course the traditional conservatives resented any sharing of the golden goose and has used any and all means in hopes of destroying the Worker's Party. So corruption is merely the playing field. But there is a significant difference between the sides. Now we'll see how it plays out. (Any American readers that find this scenario shocking should see "The Big Short" a second time.)
42
Right. People in office are the "good guys." What a shame they're not so good into skillfully maneuvering the golden goose to keep it alive, like other "corrupts" before them. Too hungry to handle it, they lost control and just ate it. And now they are facing the indigestion, and so are we, poor Brazilians.
4
I would say, that is partially true, but the paternalist model is not helping at all, is creating dependence instead of helping the poor to get on their feet. Those numbers were heavily masked to make it seem that poverty was eradicated, but inflation is devouring us alive, and the government can't not sustain that help for long. Unemployment, inflation, corruption... ...is gonna be very hard to get over it.
1
Noga as you are aware, in a democratically elected government, if you don't like the candidate who won you have to wait for another election cycle to get them out of office. Why is Brazil an exception to this rule? Just because all politicians failed to plan for the global price drop of oil is hardly an excuse to blame it all on Lula and Dilma. They are just being used as scapegoats!
The graft allegations are a smokescreen to hide the obvious.
The graft allegations are a smokescreen to hide the obvious.
6
Mr. Romero says that "a leftist party that rose to power vowing to stamp out the corruption of a privileged political elite ended up embracing its predecessors’ practices"; but nothing near the scope of this scandal was ever hinted nor proven in previous administrations. I am not sure which practices or predecessors he refers to, but I avoid the "all politicians are garbage, all are the same" mentality so prominent in the current Brazilian political discourse.
The Worker's Party (PT) has installed a systematic, well-oiled and vigorous criminal organization in Brazilian government, overseen by Mr. da Silva, Mr. do Amaral and Mr. Dirceu. Previous governments could claim, although cynically, that corruption and scandal were isolated episodes in their administration, "bad apples". PT cannot afford to evoke this argument.
There is a fundamental difference is practices here. What other administrations would claim an exception, PT made it into a rule. This is not a simple bribe of grafting scandal, they had Excel spreadsheets, schedules, nicknames, whole departments in huge construction companies that would handle the "corruption accounting". They went much further than FHC with Sudene, much further than Itamar, further than Sarney and even further than Collor with his Elba and PC Farias. The only further step they should be allowed to take is towards the door of the Alvorada.
The Worker's Party (PT) has installed a systematic, well-oiled and vigorous criminal organization in Brazilian government, overseen by Mr. da Silva, Mr. do Amaral and Mr. Dirceu. Previous governments could claim, although cynically, that corruption and scandal were isolated episodes in their administration, "bad apples". PT cannot afford to evoke this argument.
There is a fundamental difference is practices here. What other administrations would claim an exception, PT made it into a rule. This is not a simple bribe of grafting scandal, they had Excel spreadsheets, schedules, nicknames, whole departments in huge construction companies that would handle the "corruption accounting". They went much further than FHC with Sudene, much further than Itamar, further than Sarney and even further than Collor with his Elba and PC Farias. The only further step they should be allowed to take is towards the door of the Alvorada.
20
You're 'framing' that the PT party is much worse than its predecessors is false. If anyone has harmed the Brazilian populace the most, it has been the elites and the opposition parties who have historically stayed in power form countless decades to accomplish just that, enrich themselves at the detriment of others, simply put.
1
This is not endemic to Brazil. Every crusader ends up replacing one "Good Old Boy' network with yet another. It is the nature of the beast. This is why we hold regular elections, in the hope that someday we will figure it out.
10
First, I congratulate Mr. Romero's cogent synopsis of the political situation in Brasil. I can say that it captures the local reality dispassionately and wish that we had more journalism instead of stenography here.
Setting the cultural histrionics aside -- the whole ' I did nothing' act --the fact is that for Brasil to be what it could be all of these people must be removed from authority... now, and preferably jailed and their ill gotten gains confiscated. You know, like in the real world. It is time for adults to step up and take over. The question is whether they will or not.
Setting the cultural histrionics aside -- the whole ' I did nothing' act --the fact is that for Brasil to be what it could be all of these people must be removed from authority... now, and preferably jailed and their ill gotten gains confiscated. You know, like in the real world. It is time for adults to step up and take over. The question is whether they will or not.
25
Brazil and Latin American countries are not the only ones inundated with graft. We here in the good ole USA have plenty of it everywhere, however, our electoral system allows us to be hypocritical about other governments, while we allow it to continue unabated. Our own Supreme Court allows all electoral candidates to receive legally, ANY amount of money to get elected. If that is not graft, I don't know what is, or do we really expect that an entity or individual doesn't want anything in return for these ungodly contributions? Yeah right!
1
I have many Brazilian friends who have move to Europe using their Portuguese Grandfather rights and acquired Portuguese passports and thus access to the EU. They think that's actually a form of corruption incidentally. Not one of them is surprised or even outraged by what is happening back home. Most of them are happy to tell you that every facet of life is contaminated by some form of back-scratching, from getting to see a doctor more quickly, to acquiring a driving license. You can, with the right money, buy your way to the top of a line, out of a parking fine, into a school. It's everywhere. so much so that it is for the most part considered normal. And this country was allowed to have the Word Cup and is about to host the Olympics - when some of the building projects are still nowhere near completion because of investigations into 'irregularities". When corrupt becomes the norm, nothing is safe, nobody can be sure of anything and it can only get worse. Rooting it out requires radical approaches, merciless investigations and personal honesty. In a country not used to operating like that, who do not know how to be truly unimpeachable, incorruptible and personally resilient, how will it ever be put right?
34
Jon, you're absolutely right, corruption has contaminated all aspects of life over Brazil, it's an ill-fated place unless Brazilians take responsibility over their ways. I lived abroad and learned how a civilized nation should be like. But I sense everyday that people are starting to understand that this system can not sustain itself and... people are starting to change, it's a slow and painful process, but otherwise, we will be doomed. It's a bit dramatic but, that's how I feel.
3
If oil was privatized these acts of corruption would be legal. The board of directors would even award bonuses for proper conduct. When governments take over natural resource extraction we call it corruption. Humans are inherently greedy and rarely pursue the betterment of all. From CEOs to mega church leaders, we expect our leaders to enrich themselves wildly. Party on.
22
actually bribery is illegal. Company officials are expected to act in the company's interest, not solicit bribes. Government officials are expected to act in the interest of the people, not their own pockets.
7
But consider how the private companies influence the governments through campaign funding and outright bribery.
1