“Brazil is Going Through a Dangerous Transitional Moment,” says ex-President

By Xiu Ying, Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Former Brazilian President (1995-2002) Fernando Henrique Cardoso (FHC) criticized what he perceives as a “punitive” approach by the authorities dealling with crime in the country.

Without directly citing President Jair Bolsonaro’s government, FHC used a debate on current drug policy to say that “Brazil is going through a dangerous transitional moment.”

“Unfortunately, in Brazil, the idea still prevails that a good criminal is a dead criminal,” FHC said in a meeting organized in São Paulo by the foundation that bears his name, in collaboration with the Igarapé Institute.

According to the former president, the country needs a stronger focus on the fight against organized crime instead of “persecuting” users of drugs such as marijuana.

“The punitive attitude we are adopting is counterproductive,” he added.

FHC said he hoped that the Federal Supreme Court (STF) would position itself more “adequately” concerning this discussion.

The issue should be included in the Court’s agenda in June, driven by the expectation of a position on decriminalizing the possession of marijuana by the Justices.

“Am I saying that whoever advocates drug regulation is advocating drug use? No, nobody in their right mind defends the use of drugs,” added the former president.

FHC shared the table with lawyers Pierpaolo Bottini and Beto Vasconcelos, and Leon Garcia, the former director of the National Bureau of Drug Policy, under the Ministry of Justice .

The debate was mediated by the executive director of the Igarapé Institute, Ilona Szabó, who had been appointed by Justice Minister Sergio Moro to join the National Agency for Criminal and Penitentiary Policy, but had her nomination vetoed by President Bolsonaro.