BRAZIL-What good does it do to have power...

...if you can’t abuse it?

Corruption is not new to the Brazilian scene. Some years ago there was a joke circulating in Brazil that a Brazilian diplomat in a meeting with the President, informed that a panel of judges had just elected Brazil as the second most corrupt country in the entire world. The President shook his head, clucked his tongue, and then asked, “What country was elected the most corrupt?” The diplomat responded, “Well, actually we were, but we managed to buy off a couple of the judges on the panel in order to ensure second place.”

The Chief Prosecutor of the Republic, Rodrigo Janot, has just issued a request for the arrest of former Cabinet Minister, Romero Jucá (Minister of Planning), President of the Senate Renan Calheiros, and former President  and current Senator for the State of Amapá, José Sarney. All are accused of obstruction of justice for planning to subvert the Lava-Jato investigations and limit the actions of the Federal Police and the Federal Public Prosecutor’s office. He also issued a request for the arrest of Eduardo Cunha whose mandate is supposed to be decided today by the “Ethics” Committee of the Lower Chamber of the legislature.

Local wags have suggested that Sarney has been in politics for so long that if he negotiates a plea bargain, he might be able to shed some light on whether Prometheus acted alone when he stole fire from the gods.

As the roster now stands, one President is awaiting trial (Dilma), and two ex-presidents are under investigation (Lula and Sarney), the arrests of the Presidents of the Senate and of the Lower Chamber have also been requested, so the situation begs the question of who is minding the store?

You might remember that when Dilma was suspended from office to await a decision that she would or would not stand trial for impeachment, she was given the use of an Air Force jet to zip around the country. That “perk” has now been rescinded and she can only requisition a jet to fly to and from her home in Rio Grande do Sul. Dilma was livid. She plans to fly to the City of Campinas today and may have to go on a commercial flight with “the people” (horrors!). Given her level of popularity with the general public, she might find the flight a “bit uncomfortable”!

As I wrote yesterday, plea bargains have also now indicated 13 governors and 36 senators in some form or other of corruption.

A significant number of those under investigation might be indicted and have to stand trial. Their trials will be conducted by the Supreme Court. That’s an impressive case load to add to those already flowing through the Court. How long all this could take is anyone’s guess.

Whew!!