Juliana Barbassa – Associated Press, 8/3/2012
Brazil’s Supreme Court began deliberations Thursday in a case involving a cash-for-votes scheme in the legislature that could tarnish the legacy of hugely popular former President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva and the ruling party.
Despite dredging up details of what some call the largest political corruption case in Brazil’s history, the Supreme Court trial is also being hailed as a sign of political health in a country where public service has long been marred by corruption and impunity.
“It’s a change of game. Brazilians are going to see someone accused of corruption really go to trial, maybe get convicted. Impunity no longer operates,” said David Fleischer, a political scientist at the University of Brasilia. “This is going to turn a page. In the future, politicians will be very careful, much more cautious about how they do things.”
