- The departure of Lula and Rousseff
- Jair Bolsonaro
- Flavio Bolsonaro
- Fabrizio Queiroz
- The preliminary end of the investigation
- The Militias
- The murder of Marielle Franco and the Militias
- Adriano da Nobrega
- Sergio Moro the Corruption Buster
- Corruption or Obfuscation
The departure of Lula and Rousseff
In 2015 Brazil experienced a severe economic crisis. Unemployment reached a five-year high, inflation more than doubled the government's target and incomes plummeted by 5 % year-on-year. And the then president of Brazil Dilma Rousseff (Workers Party, Partido dos Trabalhadores/PT) was criticised and confronted with investigations into corruption within the state-owned oil company Petrobras. [1]Against Petrobras was investigated for bribery at a time when Rousseff was in charge. Rousseff herself however was not accused of accepting bribery. [2] [3] [4] [5]
On August 31, 2016 the then president of Brazil Rousseff was impeached. She was accused of having violated budget laws during the economic crisis with increased government spending. The upper house of Brazil then voted 61 to 20 votes in favor of the impeachment of Rousseff and thus made the then vice-president Michel Temer president. The whole process was accompanied by nationwide protests. [3] [4] [5]
Since 2014 the predecessor of Rousseff Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (Labor Party, Partido dos Trabalhadores/PT) is accused of corruption. Lula da Silva is accused of overseeing a system of corruption in which among other bribes were paid to obtain lucrative orders from the state-owned oil company Petrobras. [6] [7] [8]
The investigators initially did not accuse him of receiving bribes. Investigators accused him of paying bribes to Petrobras leaders, members of the Labor Party (Partido dos Trabalhadores/PT) and MPs to ensure continued government by the Labor Party (Partido dos Trabalhadores/PT). The whole process was accompanied by nationwide protests. [6] [7] [8]
During the presidential campaign of 2018 Lula da Silva was again accused of corruption in connection with Petrobras. The anti-corruption judge Sergio Moro found Lula da Silva guilty of having personaly accepted bribes. [9] [10] [11] [12]
On 1 September 2018 Lula da Silva was then prohibited from participating in the 2018 presidential election. Thus an election victory of the Labor Party (Partido dos Trabalhadores/PT) in 2018 was de facto prevented. [13] [14]
Jair Bolsonaro
Jair Bolsonaro was sworn in as President of Brazil on 1 January 2019. And immediately he came into the focus of a political scandal. Jair Bolsonaro has five children and three of them are politicaly actice Eduardo, Carlos and Flavio. [15] [16]Eduardo Nantes Bolsonaro is police officer, lawyer and MP for the upper house for Sao Paulo. Carlos Nantes Bolsonaro is a member of a municipal assembly of Rio de Janeiro. Flavio Nantes Bolsonaro is a lawyer and a member of a regional assembly of Rio de Janeiro. All are members of the social liberal party (Partido Social Liberal/PSL). [16] [17]
Flavio Bolsonaro
In the beginning the Council for Financial Activities Control (Conselho de Controle de Atividades Financeiras) objected to suspicious transactions between Flavio Bolsonaro and Fabrizio Queiroz. As the news agency O Globo reported the authoities were looking into the account of Fabrizio Queiroz and transactions worth 1.8 million US-Dollar into and out of the the account of Fabrizio Queiroz between 2014 and 2017. Fabrizio Queiroz was previously the personal driver of Flavio Bolsonaro. [18] [19]In addition payments were made to the account of Flavio Bolsonaro in which several and small cash deposits were made within one month. According to Flavio Bolsonaro these deposits come from a real estate business. Why these were done in cash he didn't tell. Thus Flavio Bolsonaro casts the shadow of doubt over the still young presidency of Jair Bolsonaro. [18] [19]
Fabrizio Queiroz
Fabrizio Queiroz is a former police officer and was for a long time the personal driver of Flavio Bolsonaro. Queiroz was ordered to testify to the prosecutor of the transactions on December 19, 2018. [20] [21] [22]Queiroz however evaded the questioning by the authorities by visiting a hospital. His lawyer said that health problems prevented him from testifying. Shortly thereafter a video of him in the hospital emerged in which he dances, laughs and shows no health impairments. [23] [24] [25] [26]
Controversial on the one hand is that the value of the transactions was much higher than the income of both. The authorities look into deposits worth 300,000 US-dollars made by Flavio Bolsonaro by Queiroz. Furthermore payments went to Michelle Bolsonaro the wife of Jair Bolsonaro. Here the authorities look into deposits worth 6,200 US-dollars into the account of Michelle Bolsonaro by Queiroz. According to Jair Bolsonaro these were repayments for a loan. [27] [28] [29] [30] [31]
The preliminary end of the investigation
However after Flavio Bolsonaro urged the state prosecutor's the investigation against Fabrizio Queiroz was stopped. The lawyers of Flavio Bolsonaro stated that as a senator their client enjoys legal protection in certain matters and thus handed the investigation over to the supreme court. However as the supreme court is overburdened many see it as a tactic to avoid the investigations. [32] [33]The Militias
In Brazil militias have become a major threat to the population and domestic security. In the 1990s the militias consisted of former firefighters, police and military personnel and fought lawlessness in their neighborhoods. For this they were praised by some politicians and also Jair Bolsonaro. Today they control daily necessities such as electricity, water or cigarettes and are part of organized crime in Brazil. And they are recruited from former and current police and military personnel. [34] [35] [36] [37]About 620,000 of 6.7 million people in Rio de Janeiro live under the control of such militias. In addition the murder rate has risen from 24.1 per 100,000 in 2015 to 32.5 per 100,000 in 2017. In the region of Baixada north of Rio de Janeiro it even rose from 45.4 per 100,000 in 2015 to 60.6 per 100,000. [36] [37]
The murder of Marielle Franco and the Militias
On March 14, 2018 MEP Marielle Franco was murdered with her driver. Franco was a popular and vocal critic of police brutality. Investigators assume that militias are responsible for the murder because the murder was planned and executed accurately. Even the surveillance cameras were turned off before the murder. [34] [35] [36] [38]After the incident thousands of people demonstrated in remembrance of Franco and demanded justice. But to this day nobody has been convicted of the murder of Franco. [39] [40]
Adriano da Nobrega
In January five leaders of an influential militia were arrested. Arrest warrants were issued for eight others but they are still on the run including the active police officer Adriano da Nobrega. According to research by The Intercept Adriano da Nobrega is the prime suspect in the murder of Marielle Franco. [38] [41] [42] [43]Brisant are the reports of O Globo that both the spouse Danielle da Nobrega and the mother Raimunda da Nobrega of Adriano da Nobrega were employed by Flavio Bolsonaro. And Adriano da Nobrega along with others was honored by Flavio Bolsonaro for his work. [38] [41] [42] [43] %
Sergio Moro the Corruption Buster
Sergio Moro is considered a champion against corruption in Brazil. Moro was also responsible for the departure of Lula da Silva during the presidential campaign. [44] [45]Now it became known that there are connections from members of the Bolsonaro family to a militia. And this militia is suspected of being responsible for the murder of Marielle Franco. Moro however is silent about the Bolsonaro family scandal. [46] [47] [48] [49]
Corruption or Obfuscation
The Presidency of Jair Bolsonaro is thus under the shadow of corruption from the beginning. And there are many questions. Why is Sergio Moro silent about the events surrounding the Bolsonaro family? And what does Jair Bolsonaro know himself?The situation however is not so easy to oversee. Because the same forces which prevented the Workers Party (Partido dos Trabalhadores/PT) and forwarded Bolsonaro such as O Globo or the Brazilian judiciary now seem to be at least partially against Bolsonaro. O Globo is one of the most influential news agencies in South America and Brazil in particular and a clearly pro-business. So why does the news agency O Globo report about it? The Brazilian judiciary is also considered to be biased not since the questionable investigations against the Labor Party (Partido dos Trabalhadores/PT). So why is the Brazilian judiciary investigating?
[1] Brazil opens impeachment proceedings against president Dilma Rousseff 2015-12-03
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/02/brazil-dilma-rousseff-impeachment-proceedings
[2] Brazil's Senate Votes to Impeach President Dilma Rousseff 2016-05-12
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/brazil-senate-votes-impeach-president-dilma-rousseff-n572606
[3] Dilma Rousseff: 'I'm the victim of a great injustice' 2016-05-13
https://edition.cnn.com/2016/05/12/americas/brazil-rousseff-impeachment-vote/index.html
[4] Brazil President Dilma Rousseff removed from office by Senate 2016-09-01
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-37237513
[5] Brazil's Senate ousts Dilma Rousseff in impeachment vote 2016-09-01
https://edition.cnn.com/2016/08/31/americas/brazil-rousseff-impeachment-vote/index.html
[6] ‘Lula,’ Brazil’s Ex-President, Is Charged With Corruption 2016-09-14
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/15/world/americas/brazil-lula-corruption-charges.html
[7] Brazil's ex-president Lula decries persecution as he faces corruption charges in court 2017-05-11
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/may/10/brazil-lula-president-court-corruption-charges
[8] Ex-President of Brazil Sentenced to Nearly 10 Years in Prison for Corruption 2017-07-12
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/12/world/americas/brazil-lula-da-silva-corruption.html
[9] Ex-Brazil President Lula sentenced to nearly 10 years for corruption 2017-07-12
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-brazil-corruption-lula-idUSKBN19X2FO
[10] Brazil ex-President Lula loses appeal against corruption conviction 2018-01-25
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-42810464
[11] Brazil's Lula: 'Only death will take me off streets' 2018-04-08
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-10841416
[12] Lula ordered to jail, reshaping Brazil’s political landscape ahead of presidential election 2018-04-05
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/lula-verdict-plunges-brazil-into-political-chaos-ahead-of-presidential-election/2018/04/05/a215bb1a-386e-11e8-af3c-2123715f78df_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.b33040b9edb6
[13] PT aprova Haddad para substituir Lula como candidato à Presidência 2018-09-11
https://veja.abril.com.br/politica/pt-aprova-haddad-para-substituir-lula-como-candidato-a-presidencia/
[14] TSE indefere pedido de registro de candidatura de Lula à Presidência da República 2018-09-01
http://www.tse.jus.br/imprensa/noticias-tse/2018/Setembro/tse-indefere-pedido-de-registro-de-candidatura-de-lula-a-presidencia-da-republica
[15] Son of Brazil President Bolsonaro joins Steve Bannon group 2019-02-02
https://www.france24.com/en/20190202-son-brazil-president-bolsonaro-joins-steve-bannon-group
[16] Carlos Bolsonaro é o candidato a vereador mais votado do Rio 2016-10-03
https://politica.estadao.com.br/noticias/eleicoes,carlos-bolsonaro-e-o-candidato-a-vereador-mais-votado-do-rio,10000079800
[17] Flávio Bolsonaro 11120
https://www.eleicoes2014.com.br/flavio-bolsonaro/
[18] Questions over payments involving son of Brazil president 2019-01-21
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/jan/21/questions-over-payments-involving-son-of-brazil-pr/
[19] Questions over payments involving son of Brazil president 2019-01-21
https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/questions-over-payments-involving-son-of-brazil-president/
[20] Fabrício Queiroz, ex-assessor de Flávio Bolsonaro, falta novamente a depoimento 2018-12-21
https://brasil.elpais.com/brasil/2018/12/21/politica/1545417445_732874.html
[21] Bolsonaros face questions in Brazil over corruption probe 2019-01-18
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/jan/18/bolsonaros-face-questions-in-brazil-over-corruptio/
[22] Bolsonaros face questions in Brazil over corruption probe 2019-01-18
http://www.startribune.com/bolsonaros-face-questions-in-brazil-over-corruption-probe/504560342/
[23] ¿Primer caso de corrupción de Bolsonaro? 2019-01-14
http://www.ansalatina.com/americalatina/noticia/brasil/2019/01/14/indicios-sobre-supuesto-fraude-de-bolsonaro_6f3c359a-eb32-47bc-a693-72c6ce9d4ef7.html
[24] Brazil president's son misses meeting with prosecutors probing payments 2019-01-10
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-brazil-corruption/brazil-presidents-son-misses-meeting-with-prosecutors-probing-payments-idUSKCN1P42DN
[25] Brazil president's son misses meeting with prosecutors probing payments 2019-01-10
https://www.todayonline.com/world/brazil-presidents-son-misses-meeting-prosecutors-probing-payments
[26] Fabrício Queiroz dança em hospital 2019-01-12
https://youtu.be/ReBhFYocoU4
[27] Brazil’s Bolsonaro under pressure over suspect payments to family 2018-12-13
https://www.france24.com/en/20181213-brazil-president-elect-bolsonaro-scrutiny-suspect-payments-family-corruption
[28] Os R 7 milhões do Queiroz 2019-01-20
https://blogs.oglobo.globo.com/lauro-jardim/post/os-r-7-milhoes-do-queiroz.html
[29] Aide to Bolsonaro's son says cash from cars, not corruption 2018-12-27
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-6533453/Aide-Bolsonaros-son-says-cash-cars-not-corruption.html
[30] Aide to Bolsonaro’s son says cash from cars, not corruption 2018-12-27
https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/aide-to-bolsonaros-son-says-cash-from-cars-not-corruption/
[31] Aide to Bolsonaro's son says cash from cars, not corruption 2018-12-27
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/dec/27/aide-to-bolsonaros-son-says-cash-from-cars-not-cor/
[32] At Bolsonaro Son's Request, Brazil Top Court Suspends Probe of His Ex-Driver 2019-01-17
https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2019-01-17/brazil-prosecutors-suspend-probe-into-funds-handled-by-ex-driver-of-bolsonaros-son
[33] At Bolsonaro son's request, Brazil top court suspends probe of his ex-driver 2019-01-17
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-brazil-corruption-idUSKCN1PB1Y3
[34] 'Like a cancer:' Rio militias grow, control swaths of city 2018-05-19
https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/like-a-cancer-rio-militias-grow-control-swaths-of-city
[35] 'Like a cancer:' Rio militias grow, control swaths of city 2018-12-24
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/like-a-cancer-rio-militias-grow-control-swaths-of-city/articleshow/67225836.cms
[36] Rio de Janeiro’s Militias Grow in Power - Researchers Sound Alarm on the Unchecked Growth of Rio's Cop-Mafias 2014-10-10
http://www.rioonwatch.org/?p=18413
[37] TÁ TUDO DOMINADO - Exclusivo: as milícias assumiram o controle do Rio de Janeiro 2018-04-05
https://theintercept.com/2018/04/05/milicia-controle-rio-de-janeiro/
[38] WHO KILLED MARIELLE FRANCO? AN EX-RIO DE JANEIRO COP WITH TIES TO ORGANIZED CRIME, SAY SIX WITNESSES IN POLICE REPORT 2019-01-18
https://theintercept.com/2019/01/17/marielle-franco-brazil-assassination-suspect/
[39] Thousands march in Brazil after murder of activist councilwoman 2018-03-15
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-brazil-violence/rio-de-janeiro-councilwoman-critic-of-police-killings-shot-dead-idUSKCN1GR2BA
[40] Brazil minister: Militia probably behind councilwoman murder 2018-04-16
https://apnews.com/fcb9dadde28e4eeba6a44e82a97969bf
[41] Rio police arrest 5 from militia gang that 'terrorized' 2019-01-22
https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/rio-authorities-arrest-5-leaders-of-militia-gang
[42] Rio police arrest 5 from militia gang that ‘terrorized’ 2019-01-22
https://apnews.com/64c5675a59174f5594037e6e0d66ed66
[43] Flávio Bolsonaro empregou mãe e mulher de chefe do Escritório do Crime em seu gabinete 2019-01-22
https://oglobo.globo.com/brasil/flavio-bolsonaro-empregou-mae-mulher-de-chefe-do-escritorio-do-crime-em-seu-gabinete-23391490
[44] Brazil's Sergio Moro looks to overhaul crime fighting 2019-02-04
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/feb/4/brazils-sergio-moro-looks-to-overhaul-crime-fighti/
[45] AQ Top 5 Corruption Busters: Sérgio Moro
https://www.americasquarterly.org/content/aq-top-5-corruption-busters-s%C3%A9rgio-moro
[46] The Assassination of Brazilian Politician Marielle Franco Turned Her Into a Global Icon 2018-03-22
http://time.com/5210509/assassination-brazilian-politician-marielle-franco-global-icon/
[47] Supporters Demand Answers After the Murder of Marielle Franco, Brazil's Rising Political Star 2018-03-23
http://time.com/5212121/marielle-franco-brazil-murder-investigation/
[48] Flávio Bolsonaro Kept Relatives Of Suspected Militia Commander In Payroll 2019-01-23
https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/internacional/en/brazil/2019/01/flavio-bolsonaro-kept-relatives-of-suspected-militia-commander-in-payroll.shtml
[49] Flávio Bolsonaro elogiou duas vezes suspeito de atuar para milícia 2019-01-22
https://www.valor.com.br/politica/6075183/flavio-bolsonaro-elogiou-duas-vezes-suspeito-de-atuar-para-milicia
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