The Intelligence from The Economist Patrons’ taint: Brazil’s pork-barrel politics
Jun 15, 2021
In this discussion, Sarah Maslin, the São Paulo bureau chief for The Economist, dives into Brazil's fraught political landscape. She examines President Jair Bolsonaro's fall from grace and his reliance on traditional patronage despite campaigning against it. The conversation also touches on the implications of scandals like 'Tractorgate' and explores how pork-barrel politics skew governance. Maslin provides insights into societal complexities, including the visibility of racial issues and their intersection with political discourse.
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Bolsonaro's Turnaround
- Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's popularity has declined due to his handling of the pandemic and broken promises.
- To regain support, he's resorting to pork-barrel politics, contradicting his campaign pledge.
Tractorgate Scandal
- The "Tractorgate" scandal revealed that billions of reais were funneled to congressmen for public works projects.
- These projects often involved inflated prices and companies linked to politicians' relatives, highlighting Bolsonaro's pork-barrel politics.
Bolsonaro's Vulnerability
- Bolsonaro's vulnerability stems from both the pandemic's impact and investigations into him and his sons.
- These investigations involve alleged corruption, money laundering, and obstruction of justice, further weakening his position.