Opinion, by Michael Royster RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The protests continue apace, and the protesters seem to be growing in number. Brazilian media of all types are having a feast day if not a feeding frenzy. Why all this tumult over an increase in bus fares that is one twentieth (1/20 or five percent) [...]
Opinion, by Michael Royster RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Elections will be held in October 2014 throughout Brazil, with contenders for federal Congress, Senate and President. Although that seems like quite a distance away, it is more than clear that the Presidential campaign has already started. There are four quasi-declared candidates, and one undeclared candidate. [...]
By Ben Tavener, Senior Contributing Reporter SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL – A rumor that the Bolsa Família anti-poverty program was set to close led to hundreds of thousands of families withdrawing the state benefit over the weekend. Caixa Econômica Federal, the state-run bank that organizes the Bolsa Família, said R$152 million (around US$75 million) had been [...]
Opinion, by Michael Royster RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – God may be Brazilian, but Marx certainly wasn’t. He famously stated that “religion is the opiate of the masses” when, here in Brazil, all know that “futebol” is the true opiate, as addictive to Marxists and Socialists as it is to autocratic generals. It makes you [...]
By Ben Tavener, Senior Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has reiterated his support for Brazil’s incumbent president, Dilma Rousseff, to run for a second term in office in the 2014 presidential elections. Lula told friends that he has no intention of running in an attempt to [...]
By Lucy Jordan, Senior Contributing Reporter BRASÍLIA, BRAZIL – New research shows nearly three-quarters of Brazilians are in favor of continuing the Bolsa Família, an anti-poverty program that gives cash to families in return for ensuring their children attend school and are vaccinated. Most Brazilians, sixty percent, would rather pay more taxes and have better [...]
By Lucy Jordan, Senior Contributing Reporter BRASÍLIA, BRAZIL – Federal Police said Friday they had arrested six people in Brasília and São Paulo for alleged involvement in a corruption ring. In total, eighteen people are under investigation for influence peddling, bribery, conspiracy and forgery in connection with the scheme, which allegedly saw government approvals given [...]
By Ben Tavener, Senior Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Brazil’s Supreme Court, the STF, has sentenced ex-Chief of Staff José Dirceu to ten years, ten months in prison for corruption crimes relating to the mensalão scandal that has rocked Brazilian politics. Dirceu must also pay a fine of R$676,000 (US$330,000) and will serve [...]
Opinion, by Michael Royster RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – As this is written, the Justices of the Brazilian Supreme Court (“STF”) are now in the final stages of judging the 37 “mensalão” cases. To refresh your memory, the Curmudgeon will revive three of the questions and answers from his prior column. He will then ask [...]
By Lucy Jordan, Senior Contributing Reporter BRASÍLIA, BRAZIL – The mensalão case, dubbed the “trial of the century,” moves into its most politically significant phase this week with the Supreme Court examining the allegations of vote buying by the Partido dos Trabalhadores (Workers’ Party, PT). Now Marcos Valério has claimed in an incendiary interview with [...]
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