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| As ex-president Lula faces charges, a divided Brazil wonders: What’s next? | As ex-president Lula faces charges, a divided Brazil wonders: What’s next? |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| RIO DE JANEIRO — A corruption scandal that has entangled the highest echelons of power is sharply dividing Brazil, which is already grappling with an economic crisis and a public health emergency over the Zika virus. | RIO DE JANEIRO — A corruption scandal that has entangled the highest echelons of power is sharply dividing Brazil, which is already grappling with an economic crisis and a public health emergency over the Zika virus. |
| Now it has reached Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who was Brazil’s most popular president in decades. On Wednesday, state prosecutors filed money-laundering and misrepresentation charges against Lula in a related but separate case involving executives of one of the companies implicated in the scandal. | Now it has reached Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who was Brazil’s most popular president in decades. On Wednesday, state prosecutors filed money-laundering and misrepresentation charges against Lula in a related but separate case involving executives of one of the companies implicated in the scandal. |
| And with anti-government demonstrations looming Sunday, nervous Brazilians are wondering: What’s next? | And with anti-government demonstrations looming Sunday, nervous Brazilians are wondering: What’s next? |
| [An oil scandal is shaking Brazil’s democracy to its core] | [An oil scandal is shaking Brazil’s democracy to its core] |
| Last week, police in Sao Paulo detained Lula, as the charismatic former union leader is known in Brazil, for questioning in a sprawling federal investigation into billions of dollars in bribes, kickbacks and favors offered to executives, political parties and lawmakers for valuable contracts with the state-controlled oil company Petrobras. | Last week, police in Sao Paulo detained Lula, as the charismatic former union leader is known in Brazil, for questioning in a sprawling federal investigation into billions of dollars in bribes, kickbacks and favors offered to executives, political parties and lawmakers for valuable contracts with the state-controlled oil company Petrobras. |
| Lula was not charged then, but people were shaken by the sight of this political icon being led from his house by police, a spectacle broadcast live on Brazilian television. | Lula was not charged then, but people were shaken by the sight of this political icon being led from his house by police, a spectacle broadcast live on Brazilian television. |
| “It is difficult to convey the symbolism of this gesture,” said Jairo Nicolau, a professor of political science at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. “Lula is still the biggest leader in Brazil.” | “It is difficult to convey the symbolism of this gesture,” said Jairo Nicolau, a professor of political science at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. “Lula is still the biggest leader in Brazil.” |
| The targeting of Lula also potentially hurts Dilma Rousseff, his political protege and successor as president. She was narrowly reelected in 2014 with his support but is facing impeachment proceedings and an investigation by an electoral court. | The targeting of Lula also potentially hurts Dilma Rousseff, his political protege and successor as president. She was narrowly reelected in 2014 with his support but is facing impeachment proceedings and an investigation by an electoral court. |
| [Arrest in Brazil bribery scandal raises the stakes for President Rousseff] | [Arrest in Brazil bribery scandal raises the stakes for President Rousseff] |
| The federal investigators who detained Lula on March 4 are looking into a country estate used by him and his family, as well as a seaside apartment. They allege that Lula hid his ownership of the properties and that construction companies caught up in the scandal did extensive work on the properties in return for political favors. Lula denies the charges. | The federal investigators who detained Lula on March 4 are looking into a country estate used by him and his family, as well as a seaside apartment. They allege that Lula hid his ownership of the properties and that construction companies caught up in the scandal did extensive work on the properties in return for political favors. Lula denies the charges. |
| In a video interview released on YouTube, Lula’s attorney, Cristiano Martins, said the ex-president’s family acquired a share of a building being constructed by a housing cooperative but chose not to buy the seaside apartment after the construction firm OAS took over the cooperative’s properties. Martins said that the estate was renovated for the use of friends and that Lula considered storing some of his presidential records there. | In a video interview released on YouTube, Lula’s attorney, Cristiano Martins, said the ex-president’s family acquired a share of a building being constructed by a housing cooperative but chose not to buy the seaside apartment after the construction firm OAS took over the cooperative’s properties. Martins said that the estate was renovated for the use of friends and that Lula considered storing some of his presidential records there. |
| Investigators are also examining $8 million in speaking fees and donations that Lula and his Lula Institute received from construction companies embroiled in the scandal. | Investigators are also examining $8 million in speaking fees and donations that Lula and his Lula Institute received from construction companies embroiled in the scandal. |
| On Wednesday, Sao Paulo state prosecutors filed charges against Lula, his wife and one of their sons in a separate case that also involves executives from OAS, one of the main companies involved in the Petrobras scandal. A judge has to approve the charges. | On Wednesday, Sao Paulo state prosecutors filed charges against Lula, his wife and one of their sons in a separate case that also involves executives from OAS, one of the main companies involved in the Petrobras scandal. A judge has to approve the charges. |
| Charges were also filed against OAS’s former chief executive and the former treasurer of Lula’s Workers’ Party — both of whom have received jail sentences in the Petrobras scandal. | Charges were also filed against OAS’s former chief executive and the former treasurer of Lula’s Workers’ Party — both of whom have received jail sentences in the Petrobras scandal. |
| [Brazil’s new hero is a nerdy judge who is tough on official corruption] | [Brazil’s new hero is a nerdy judge who is tough on official corruption] |
| The allegations against Lula have roiled his supporters, who say Brazil’s rich and powerful are seeking to destroy his reputation and a potential shot at a third presidential mandate. | |
| An emotional and combative speech by the former president on March 4 has deepened the divide. | An emotional and combative speech by the former president on March 4 has deepened the divide. |
| “This is the class struggle, yes. This theme is not over,” Leonardo Boff, a left-wing writer and proponent of Catholic “liberation theology,” wrote on a pro-government website. | “This is the class struggle, yes. This theme is not over,” Leonardo Boff, a left-wing writer and proponent of Catholic “liberation theology,” wrote on a pro-government website. |
| Conservative, white, upper-class Brazilians — many of whom loathe the Workers’ Party and have played a big role in antigovernment demonstrations — have responded with equal vitriol. | |
| Hundreds of thousands of Brazilians — many from more privileged classes — took to city streets nationwide several times last year to protest corruption and call for Rousseff’s impeachment and Lula’s imprisonment. More protests are planned for Sunday. | Hundreds of thousands of Brazilians — many from more privileged classes — took to city streets nationwide several times last year to protest corruption and call for Rousseff’s impeachment and Lula’s imprisonment. More protests are planned for Sunday. |
| “Lula manipulates and deludes the people,” said Giuliana Campanari, 43, director of a Sao Paulo advertising agency and a protest regular. She said his Workers’ Party is motivated by greed, not ideology. “They are vermin. They finished off the country,” she said. | “Lula manipulates and deludes the people,” said Giuliana Campanari, 43, director of a Sao Paulo advertising agency and a protest regular. She said his Workers’ Party is motivated by greed, not ideology. “They are vermin. They finished off the country,” she said. |
| Some commentators criticize the heightened rhetoric and worsening polarization. | Some commentators criticize the heightened rhetoric and worsening polarization. |
| “This climate of hysteria is reciprocal. It contaminates both sides of the debate,” popular broadcaster Ricardo Boechat said in a radio commentary. | “This climate of hysteria is reciprocal. It contaminates both sides of the debate,” popular broadcaster Ricardo Boechat said in a radio commentary. |
| Experts say the corruption probe is being properly handled. | Experts say the corruption probe is being properly handled. |
| “What we are seeing is very strong people who are doing their job right,” said Alejandro Salas, regional director for the Americas at Transparency International, a Berlin-based group that studies corruption. | “What we are seeing is very strong people who are doing their job right,” said Alejandro Salas, regional director for the Americas at Transparency International, a Berlin-based group that studies corruption. |
| Since Operation Carwash, as the investigation into bribes and kickbacks at Petrobras is called, began in March 2014, prosecutors have charged 179 people. The scheme led the company to write off $2 billion. | Since Operation Carwash, as the investigation into bribes and kickbacks at Petrobras is called, began in March 2014, prosecutors have charged 179 people. The scheme led the company to write off $2 billion. |
| The investigation has since expanded to target Brazil’s notoriously corrupt politicians: The Supreme Court is investigating an additional 94 people, mostly lawmakers, including the speaker of the lower house of parliament, Eduardo Cunha, who faces corruption and money-laundering charges. | The investigation has since expanded to target Brazil’s notoriously corrupt politicians: The Supreme Court is investigating an additional 94 people, mostly lawmakers, including the speaker of the lower house of parliament, Eduardo Cunha, who faces corruption and money-laundering charges. |
| [Brazilian corruption scandal ensnares top senator, investment banker] | [Brazilian corruption scandal ensnares top senator, investment banker] |
| “We can see we are reaching a point at which the law really does apply to all,” said Gustavo de Oliveira, a law professor at the University of Sao Paulo who teaches a course on corruption. | “We can see we are reaching a point at which the law really does apply to all,” said Gustavo de Oliveira, a law professor at the University of Sao Paulo who teaches a course on corruption. |
| Lula, a former metalworker who grew up in deep poverty, presided over dramatic social change. | Lula, a former metalworker who grew up in deep poverty, presided over dramatic social change. |
| During his 2003-2011 rule, more than 30 million Brazilians escaped poverty and joined a nascent lower middle class as their country rode a commodities boom. He came to represent a future that Brazilians thought would never be theirs — in which the poor, too, could live in decent houses, work for just salaries and rely on a functioning health-care system. | During his 2003-2011 rule, more than 30 million Brazilians escaped poverty and joined a nascent lower middle class as their country rode a commodities boom. He came to represent a future that Brazilians thought would never be theirs — in which the poor, too, could live in decent houses, work for just salaries and rely on a functioning health-care system. |
| Lula also appeared to embody a new breed of politician — one who could be trusted. Now, many disappointed Brazilians are not so sure. | Lula also appeared to embody a new breed of politician — one who could be trusted. Now, many disappointed Brazilians are not so sure. |
| “He promised an honest and transparent government. And you see this, it’s sad,” said Adilson dos Santos, 53, a telecommunications technician in Recife, capital of Lula’s home state of Pernambuco, who voted for him and Rousseff. “He has lost a little credibility for everything that he did.” | “He promised an honest and transparent government. And you see this, it’s sad,” said Adilson dos Santos, 53, a telecommunications technician in Recife, capital of Lula’s home state of Pernambuco, who voted for him and Rousseff. “He has lost a little credibility for everything that he did.” |
| Rousseff, whose approval ratings have plummeted despite her insistence that she is “not guilty” in the corruption scandal, also looks increasingly fragile. The economy is tanking, and some blame years of neglect for the Zika epidemic — which many say is behind the recent jump in cases of microcephaly, a birth defect, in the country. | Rousseff, whose approval ratings have plummeted despite her insistence that she is “not guilty” in the corruption scandal, also looks increasingly fragile. The economy is tanking, and some blame years of neglect for the Zika epidemic — which many say is behind the recent jump in cases of microcephaly, a birth defect, in the country. |
| “I think she will fall,” said Nicolau, the professor. “It is not possible for the country to continue without a solution, and the solution becomes her removal.” | “I think she will fall,” said Nicolau, the professor. “It is not possible for the country to continue without a solution, and the solution becomes her removal.” |
| Read more: | Read more: |
| ‘Operation Carwash’ in Brazil causes normally staid business meeting to go off script | ‘Operation Carwash’ in Brazil causes normally staid business meeting to go off script |
| Thousands turn out across Brazil to demand president’s ouster | Thousands turn out across Brazil to demand president’s ouster |
| Brazil’s president says, ‘I’m not guilty,’ but even allies wonder if she can survive | Brazil’s president says, ‘I’m not guilty,’ but even allies wonder if she can survive |
| Brazil’s ruling party wonders how it lost its populist touch | Brazil’s ruling party wonders how it lost its populist touch |
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