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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Brazil corruption: Is the government in crisis? | Brazil corruption: Is the government in crisis? |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Millions of Brazilians took to the streets in nationwide anti-government protests on 13 March. | Millions of Brazilians took to the streets in nationwide anti-government protests on 13 March. |
| Police figures suggest a record 3.5 million people demonstrated in more than 300 cities across the country. | Police figures suggest a record 3.5 million people demonstrated in more than 300 cities across the country. |
| Many of them had wrapped themselves in the Brazilian flag and said they wanted "their country back". | Many of them had wrapped themselves in the Brazilian flag and said they wanted "their country back". |
| They also called for the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff, the arrest of former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and an end to corruption. | They also called for the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff, the arrest of former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and an end to corruption. |
| Here we take a closer look at the problems besetting Brazil and what has gone wrong since President Rousseff was re-elected for a second term in October 2014. | |
| Is Brazil in crisis? | Is Brazil in crisis? |
| Brazil's largest circulation newspaper, Folha de S Paulo, seems to think so. It has a whole section entitled "Brazil in crisis" under which it lists its latest articles on the recent protests, various corruption investigations and attempts to impeach President Rousseff. | Brazil's largest circulation newspaper, Folha de S Paulo, seems to think so. It has a whole section entitled "Brazil in crisis" under which it lists its latest articles on the recent protests, various corruption investigations and attempts to impeach President Rousseff. |
| Rio-based O Globo speaks in its editorial (in Portuguese) of a "deep and wide crisis driven by the biggest nationwide street demonstrations in the history of the country". | Rio-based O Globo speaks in its editorial (in Portuguese) of a "deep and wide crisis driven by the biggest nationwide street demonstrations in the history of the country". |
| And it is not just the media who are speaking of a crisis. | And it is not just the media who are speaking of a crisis. |
| Senator Tasso Jereissati of Brazil's opposition Social Democratic Party also spoke of a crisis and said that within his party "there is full realisation that the moment is quite serious". | Senator Tasso Jereissati of Brazil's opposition Social Democratic Party also spoke of a crisis and said that within his party "there is full realisation that the moment is quite serious". |
| Economy in the doldrums | Economy in the doldrums |
| Brazil's economy is going through its worst recession in more than three decades following a drop in prices for Brazilian commodities such as oil, iron ore and soya. | Brazil's economy is going through its worst recession in more than three decades following a drop in prices for Brazilian commodities such as oil, iron ore and soya. |
| In 2015, the economy shrank by 3.8%, its worst annual performance since 1981. | In 2015, the economy shrank by 3.8%, its worst annual performance since 1981. |
| Inflation reached 10.7% at the end of last year, a 12-year-high. | Inflation reached 10.7% at the end of last year, a 12-year-high. |
| Unemployment increased to 9% in 2015 and economists predict it could go into double figures in the coming months. | Unemployment increased to 9% in 2015 and economists predict it could go into double figures in the coming months. |
| Brazil's currency lost a third of its value against the dollar in 2015 and its value dropped again after the mass protests of 13 March. | Brazil's currency lost a third of its value against the dollar in 2015 and its value dropped again after the mass protests of 13 March. |
| Corruption | Corruption |
| One of the main complaints by protesters who took to the streets on 13 March was the high level of corruption which has tainted the highest echelons of business and politics in Brazil. | One of the main complaints by protesters who took to the streets on 13 March was the high level of corruption which has tainted the highest echelons of business and politics in Brazil. |
| Since the Workers' Party came to power in 2003, there has been a series of corruption scandals involving politicians from the governing party and also opposition parties. The two biggest are: | |
| Who has been convicted? | Who has been convicted? |
| The allegations of corruption are far reaching and include top politicians and businessmen. Twenty-five people were convicted in connection with the Mensalao scandal. They included: | The allegations of corruption are far reaching and include top politicians and businessmen. Twenty-five people were convicted in connection with the Mensalao scandal. They included: |
| Among the top names convicted in connection with Operation Car Wash are: | Among the top names convicted in connection with Operation Car Wash are: |
| President Rousseff under fire | President Rousseff under fire |
| President Dilma Rousseff's approval ratings have plummeted since she narrowly won the presidential election in October 2014. | President Dilma Rousseff's approval ratings have plummeted since she narrowly won the presidential election in October 2014. |
| According to a Datafolha poll released on 28 February, only 11% of respondents across the country said the president's performance was "good or excellent". | According to a Datafolha poll released on 28 February, only 11% of respondents across the country said the president's performance was "good or excellent". |
| Ms Rousseff was head of the board at Petrobras from 2003 to 2010. Many of her opponents say she must have known about the corruption scandal. | |
| She has always denied any involvement and a parliamentary commission cleared her of any wrongdoing in October 2015. | She has always denied any involvement and a parliamentary commission cleared her of any wrongdoing in October 2015. |
| However, she is facing impeachment proceedings over allegations she manipulated Brazil's account books to hide a growing deficit. | However, she is facing impeachment proceedings over allegations she manipulated Brazil's account books to hide a growing deficit. |
| Many of the protesters who took to the streets on 13 March chanted slogans demanding her impeachment and urging her to step down. | Many of the protesters who took to the streets on 13 March chanted slogans demanding her impeachment and urging her to step down. |
| The brief detention by police of her mentor and predecessor in office, ex-President Lula, further hurt the president's image. | The brief detention by police of her mentor and predecessor in office, ex-President Lula, further hurt the president's image. |
| Lula in the spotlight | Lula in the spotlight |
| President Lula, who governed the country for eight years from 2003 and was one of Brazil's most popular politicians, was briefly detained on 4 March as part of Operation Car Wash. | President Lula, who governed the country for eight years from 2003 and was one of Brazil's most popular politicians, was briefly detained on 4 March as part of Operation Car Wash. |
| He was questioned over allegations that he received "illicit benefits" from the Petrobras kickbacks scheme, such as having a construction firm involved in the scandal renovate a luxury beachfront apartment and a ranch allegedly owned by Lula's family. | |
| Prosecutors filed charges of money laundering against Lula. Federal Judge Sergio Moro will now have to decide if he accepts those charges. | Prosecutors filed charges of money laundering against Lula. Federal Judge Sergio Moro will now have to decide if he accepts those charges. |
| President Rousseff has offered Lula the post of chief of staff, which shields him from Judge Moro's investigation. | |
| Under Brazilian law, cabinet members can only be tried by the Supreme Court, not by a federal judge. | Under Brazilian law, cabinet members can only be tried by the Supreme Court, not by a federal judge. |
| The move is highly divisive among Brazilians. Some believe he is the victim of a political vendetta while others argue that his alleged misdeeds are catching up with him. | |
| The fact that Lula has hinted that he would be willing to run again for the presidency in 2018 has further increased the scrutiny he is under. | The fact that Lula has hinted that he would be willing to run again for the presidency in 2018 has further increased the scrutiny he is under. |
| A country divided | A country divided |
| Supporters and opponents of President Rousseff and Lula have held rival rallies in the past weeks. | Supporters and opponents of President Rousseff and Lula have held rival rallies in the past weeks. |
| Feelings are running high on both sides. | Feelings are running high on both sides. |
| Supporters of the governing Workers' Party point to the achievements the Rousseff and Lula administrations brought about, such as lifting millions of people out of poverty and reducing inequality. | Supporters of the governing Workers' Party point to the achievements the Rousseff and Lula administrations brought about, such as lifting millions of people out of poverty and reducing inequality. |
| They say that the allegations against them are a smear campaign designed to drive Ms Rousseff from office and prevent Lula from standing for the presidency in 2018. | |
| They say that the massive corruption investigations are a sign that under the Rousseff government such crimes are being punished rather than swept under the carpet as in previous administrations. | They say that the massive corruption investigations are a sign that under the Rousseff government such crimes are being punished rather than swept under the carpet as in previous administrations. |
| The fact that high-ranking members of the Workers' Party have been convicted, they argue, is proof that there is no immunity. | |
| Opponents of President Rousseff accuse her of mismanaging the economy and say her government is deeply corrupt. | Opponents of President Rousseff accuse her of mismanaging the economy and say her government is deeply corrupt. |
| They say they are fed up with the Workers' Party after its 13 years in power and demand a clean slate. | They say they are fed up with the Workers' Party after its 13 years in power and demand a clean slate. |