http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/04/brazil-police-raid-home-former-president-lula-petrobas
QuoteBrazilian police are questioning the former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva after raiding his home and several associated buildings in a search for evidence as part of an ongoing corruption investigation.
The detention of the influential Workers' party politician – who is best known by his nickname Lula – marks a dramatic new phase of the Lava Jato ("carwash") inquiry into bribery and kickback allegations involving leading Brazilian companies and dozens of congressmen.
Well, this looks bad for him.
But a non-corrupt Brazilian leader? More chance of unicorns flying.
:nelson: to all you who believed in him.
Quote from: derspiess on March 04, 2016, 09:41:33 AM
:nelson: to all you who believed in him.
I admit I liked Lula quite a bit. He was the "not Hugo Chavez" leftist of South America and did get some stuff done in Brazil.
Apparently, he also likes to have his pockets lined.
It's Latin America. People assume all politicians are corrupt so I guess why bother being any different? Hell, I bet even that Mujica dude in Uruguay had some shenanigans during his term :P
True. It's not shocking or much of a surprise. Brazil is knee-deep in corruption. What's actually surprising, is that it's getting investigated.
Quote from: Norgy on March 04, 2016, 10:06:27 AM
True. It's not shocking or much of a surprise. Brazil is knee-deep in corruption. What's actually surprising, is that it's getting investigated.
Often it's investigated when the other party gains power. But in this case the whole house of cards is falling before that even happens. Looks like Dilma's days are numbered.
And probably deservedly so, from what I have gathered.
Quote from: derspiess on March 04, 2016, 09:41:33 AM
:nelson: to all you who believed in him.
I am much more shocked he was arrested for corruption than the fact he was corrupt. He must have really taken it to new heights to stand out like this.
Quote from: Valmy on March 04, 2016, 10:57:02 AM
Quote from: derspiess on March 04, 2016, 09:41:33 AM
:nelson: to all you who believed in him.
I am much more shocked he was arrested for corruption than the fact he was corrupt. He must have really taken it to new heights to stand out like this.
He was probably standing on the shoulders of giant ants.
Those of Brest-Litovsk?
Seems unlikely, don't you think?
Giant ant migration is not my speciality, but if Mengele and Hitler could go to South America and live to a ripe old age, heck, why not.
Wow.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3496537/Protesters-storm-Brazilian-capital-phone-call-goes-public-reveals-President-gave-senior-government-position-predecessor-avoid-arrest-corruption.html
Quote from: derspiess on March 17, 2016, 08:12:51 AM
Wow.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3496537/Protesters-storm-Brazilian-capital-phone-call-goes-public-reveals-President-gave-senior-government-position-predecessor-avoid-arrest-corruption.html
I can't believe an elected politician would use his or her authority to prevent prosecution of a predecessor.
So much for that government. I'm really disappointed by all of this. Things in Brazil were going so well for a while. :(
Sounds like a good place to host the Olympics.
I hear the water is nice.
Hopefully the experience of hosting the Olympics will give Brazilians the taste of what good clean governance looks like.
Quote from: DGuller on March 17, 2016, 09:35:08 AM
Hopefully the experience of hosting the Olympics will give Brazilians the taste of what good clean governance looks like.
:lol:
Quote from: DGuller on March 17, 2016, 09:35:08 AM
Hopefully the experience of hosting the Olympics will give Brazilians the taste of what good clean governance looks like.
They just had the World Cup and that didn't work, so time to up the game.
"What can we learn from FIFA and the IOC? Hey, who ran off with my computer? I had a Powerpoint prepared and all!"
Wait a second. Do I understand this correctly? So the previous president was under investigation for corruption. In order to avoid charges, the current president decides to appoint him to a cabinet post that will exempt him from prosecution?
Seems odd that the President's chief of staff is a cabinet position in Brazil. :hmm:
A Lula quote of 1988 has turned into a meme in the Lusophone web.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmeme4fun.com%2Fimages%2F735c0fe3-df1d-4f3f-867f-5c7a60e77a6f.jpg&hash=1131ab4feaf8d8d8fad1a1f48cbf9837e367813a)
That's the way Brazil is: when a poor steals, he goes to jail. If somedy rich steals, he's promoted to minister.
No Brazil é assim: quando um pobre rouba, vai para a cadeia, mas quando um rico rouba, vira ministro.
I feel for the Brazilians. I really do.
I think it's a "growing up" moment for them. Also it's kind of a good sign that these two aren't just getting away with their shenanigans.
Quote from: derspiess on March 18, 2016, 08:56:47 AM
I think it's a "growing up" moment for them. Also it's kind of a good sign that these two aren't just getting away with their shenanigans.
For once, we agree upon something. :Embarrass: :cry: :ph34r:
Quote from: Monoriu on March 18, 2016, 05:16:05 AM
Wait a second. Do I understand this correctly? So the previous president was under investigation for corruption. In order to avoid charges, the current president decides to appoint him to a cabinet post that will exempt him from prosecution?
It will make it harder to prosecute, not exempt. But yeah, it's so nakedly corrupt. I was speechless when I heard it.
Well, they learnt from the FIFA World Cup, apparently.
Quote from: celedhring on March 18, 2016, 09:50:46 AM
Quote from: Monoriu on March 18, 2016, 05:16:05 AM
Wait a second. Do I understand this correctly? So the previous president was under investigation for corruption. In order to avoid charges, the current president decides to appoint him to a cabinet post that will exempt him from prosecution?
It will make it harder to prosecute, not exempt. But yeah, it's so nakedly corrupt. I was speechless when I heard it.
I have no words. I thought my understanding must be wrong, because nobody is going to do something like that.
Quote from: Monoriu on March 18, 2016, 10:02:41 AM
Quote from: celedhring on March 18, 2016, 09:50:46 AM
Quote from: Monoriu on March 18, 2016, 05:16:05 AM
Wait a second. Do I understand this correctly? So the previous president was under investigation for corruption. In order to avoid charges, the current president decides to appoint him to a cabinet post that will exempt him from prosecution?
It will make it harder to prosecute, not exempt. But yeah, it's so nakedly corrupt. I was speechless when I heard it.
I have no words. I thought my understanding must be wrong, because nobody is going to do something like that.
The president - Rousseff - is in the process of being impeached, so I don't think they care much for appearances at this point.
Quote from: celedhring on March 18, 2016, 09:50:46 AM
It will make it harder to prosecute, not exempt. But yeah, it's so nakedly corrupt. I was speechless when I heard it.
It's a stall tactic. It takes Brazil's supreme court to investigate a cabinet member, and considering they tried repeatedly to block his appointment, it doesn't sound as if courts are too kindly disposed toward Lula at the moment.
They should realize their time is over. Between impeachment and indictment and the gigantic million-strong protests in the street, this government has lost all legitimacy.
Yeah, I'm surprised that their party is not doing more to dump them. They're clearly a liability at this point.
Think I'm going to rewatch Terra Em Transe tonight :nerd:
Best Brazilian movie ever: Tropa de Elite.
Of course the only reason that they're going for him is that Lula is a socialist. Had it been a more right wing ex-president, they wouldn't even be bothering to try and arrest him. Talk about double standards.
Is Lula a man?
Being Brazilian, he probably had one.
Quote from: PJL on March 18, 2016, 02:57:26 PM
Of course the only reason that they're going for him is that Lula is a socialist. Had it been a more right wing ex-president, they wouldn't even be bothering to try and arrest him. Talk about double standards.
Even if that is true - and not knowing Brazil I'm not going to dip my toes there - the answer is not letting Lula go, is to prosecute them all.
Anyway, the Brazilian Supreme Court has suspended Lula's appointment as minister.
Quote from: PJL on March 18, 2016, 02:57:26 PM
Of course the only reason that they're going for him is that Lula is a socialist. Had it been a more right wing ex-president, they wouldn't even be bothering to try and arrest him. Talk about double standards.
The only right wing government Brazil has had in living memory is the military junta, who negotiated amnesties for themselves when they handed power back to a civilian government.