BRAZIL-Rip van Winkle?

Surprise, surprise!

A Supreme Court Justice was caught on live closed-circuit camera lamenting the possible ascension of the PMDB to power. He observed that Brazil had nowhere to go and expressed consternation at what he apparently sees as “distilled mediocrity” in Brazil's politics.

I wonder who or what woke him up from his long slumber! Brazil was ruled by the same family from 1500 to 1889! The declaration of a republic in 1889 was then followed by a long period of mediocre politics, interspersed by occasional moments of statesmanship.

As I wrote in numerous blog posts, the eventual victor in the War of the Kleptocrats would, by definition, be a kleptocrat. The Supreme Court Justice clearly must have known that the PMDB has occupied the vice-presidency for the past 13 years and would ascend to the presidency in the event of an impeachment or other incapacitation of the president.

Brazil’s problems are not going to end with the rise of the PMDB and they will clearly worsen if the PT remains in power. As I write this post, Dilma is busy auctioning off appointments and patronage to the political parties that agree to remain in the PT coalition and will work to block her impeachment.

Neither the PT nor the PMDB is a “fan” of Lava-Jato. Judge Sergio Moro is considered a “national hero” by the public for his efforts to weed out and sanction corruption and after tossing a few private sector mucky-mucks into the slammer (itself a rare occurrence in Brazil). He recently moved the investigation into the public sector where some 300members of the legislature representing 24 different political parties have come under investigation. The voters are ecstatic and the politicians are soiling their underwear.

So important is Lava-Jato that Vice-President Michel Temer (titular president of the PMDB) publiclyannounced that if he assumed the presidency, he would not interfere in the Lava-Jato investigations and the workings of the Judiciary. 

Former President Cardoso also was quoted that Lava-Jato should be left alone. 

Former President Lula was not quoted so he probably did not issue a statement re Lava-Jato.

The circus atmosphere that is accompanying the impeachment hearings is a bit disconcerting. In spite of my many years in Brazil, I still expect a certain level of “gravitas” on the part of those who undertake the serious business of running a country. Impeaching the occupant of the highest office in the country strikes me as a rather serious affair.

Over my many years in Brazil I was often asked by Brazilians if, as an American, I did not find Brazil’s “anarchy” charming. I always answered in the conditional saying it was entertaining when it applied to entertaining circumstances but was not terribly charming when it involved “picking the pockets” of the public-at-large. In fact, I often answered that in that context it was quite often sadistic and cruel – hence, a bit on the “sick” side.

The days are coming to an end when the confiscation of societal rents with impunity can be accompanied by derisive laughter on the part of the perpetrators. The “perps” are now going to have to be more careful and watch their backs. Now they go to jail. They might not change their “spots” but they will certainly change their “modus operandi”. That’s about as good as it gets in most open societies. No one is “too big to ‘flail’"! (Pardon the pun!)

In summary, the party is not yet over. It remains to clean up the PT’s mess while avoiding another mess that might be caused by the entering group of kleptocrats.

Good luck, Brazil! I hope you make it!