Jonathan Wheatley – Financial Times, 11/13/2012
Astonishing news from Brazil on Monday night: politicians are going to jail. Not just being convicted of crimes, you understand: actually going to jail.
It was big enough news in October when Brazil’s supreme court began handing down guilty verdicts to those accused of involvement in the mensalão, a vote-buying scheme allegedly operated in Congress in 2003 and 2004 by people close to then President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. That those people will really do time is a huge advance for the rule of law and respect for institutions in Brazil.
If it seems odd to be surprised that people convicted of wrong-doing should be punished, bear in mind the history of impunity in Brazil. Steady nerve and a brass neck – plus, as required, cash and lawyers – have traditionally been enough to let powerful Brazilians both literally and metaphorically get away with murder.
Posted by Brazil Institute 
