According to the news portal Brasil 247, the former Minister of Justice, in collusion with the deactivated Operation Lava Jato prosecutors, violated the law and adopted abusive procedures to persecute and arrest the founder of the Workers‘ Party.
Archiv: Brazil
Witness to Pau D’Arco Massacre Murdered in Brazil
On Jan. 26, Dos Santos Araujo was found shot in the head at his home in the state of Para. Previously, on May 24, 2017, he survived an assault by security forces on the Santa Lucia farm in the Pau D’Arco Municipality, where ten farmers occupying the land were killed.
India’s Serum Institute says AstraZeneca vaccine output unaffected due to fire
(21.01.2021)
SII has licensed the vaccine developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca. Many low- and middle-income countries, from Bangladesh to Brazil, are depending on SII delivering the vaccine, known as COVISHIELD in India, to fight the COVID-19 epidemic.
India clears vaccine exports to Brazil after delay
(21.01.2021)
Brazil is set to collect two million doses of Serum Institute’s (SII) Covishield vaccine, two weeks after Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi for their “urgent” clearance, sources confirmed to The Hindu.
UPDATE 1-Brazil’s Fiocruz says AstraZeneca vaccine ingredients may be delayed weeks
(08.01.2021)
A source with knowledge of the situation said the active
ingredient is ready to be shipped to Brazil, but is still
waiting for an export license from China, where it is produced.
Brazil: Judge Halts Policy Affecting Mangroves and Dunes
After receiving a citizen lawsuit against the State, the Rio de Janeiro’s Federal Criminal Judge Maria Almeida Senos de Carvalho temporarily suspended the decision taken by the National Environment Council (CONAMA) because its implementation may generate „irrevocable damage to the environment.“
Pompeo visits Guyana hoping to shore up support on Venezuela
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited the small nation of Guyana on Friday looking to shore up support for Trump administration efforts to oust Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and build ties with the booming oil producer.
Coronel Leads the National Foundation of the Arts in Brazil
As part of his conservative agenda, however, the former Captain Bolsonaro is determined to prevent schools, universities, art centers, and other cultural spaces from continuing to be „niches“ for Marxist thought, as he claims.
Brazil: Ex-President of the Lower House Sentenced To 15 Years
According to a complaint filed by the Prosecutor’s Office in the Curitiba federal court, Cunha demanded bribes for USD5 million in contracts for the construction of drillships by Petrobras, which implied diverting some US$10 million from public coffers.
The Biden Doctrine Exists Already. Here’s an Inside Preview.
The Democratic nominee and his closest advisors served in the Obama administration—but their foreign-policy vision is finding inspiration in Harry S. Truman.
#Biden – „The Democratic nominee and his closest advisors served in the Obama administration—but their foreign-policy vision is finding inspiration in Harry S. Truman.“
Brazil: Agriculture Ministry Approves Agrotoxins Despite Risks
After the parliamentary coup against the Workers‘ Party in 2016, the use of toxic agrochemicals has increased in the South American nation.
Brazil’s Proposed ‚Fake News‘ Law Says Internet Users Are Guilty Until Proven Innocent, Demands Constant Logging From ISPs
Brazilians will pretty much need a license to communicate with others — something achieved by turning platforms and app makers into bouncers at the internet nightclub.
Amazonian Indigenous Chief Paulinho Paiakan Dies of COVID-19
Paiakan, leader of the Kayapo people, was best-known as the guardian of the Amazon, after heading several fights to protect the rainforest against the exploitation of its natural resources.
Brazilian Black Teenager Found Dead After Kidnapping
Dozens of Brazilians took to the streets Monday to protest against the death of black teenager Guilherme Silva Guedes, 15, who disappeared in Vila Clara, Sao Paulo Saturday after he was kidnapped.
In violent Rio, U.S. protests stoke backlash against deadly cops
“It’s sad in a way that part of Brazilian society has to look at the U.S. to realize that the problem exists at home,” said Cano, a professor at Rio de Janeiro State University.
“And the media is giving a lot more coverage now after the George Floyd case than they would otherwise give to the recurrent cases of executions in favelas.”
A Paratrooper General Is Brazil’s New Health Minister
Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro Saturday appointed General Eduardo Pazuello as Acting Health Minister amidst the crisis prompted by the resignation of the last two health ministers, both of whom disagreed with the President’s vision on how to fight the pandemic.
Puebla Group Discusses Peace in Colombia and Pandemic Crisis
The Puebla Group today is discussing the peace process in Colombia, the health crisis, and the regional economy, during a new virtual meeting that brings together progressive leaders from Latin America.
‚Brazil Is a Ship Sailing Towards Disaster‘ Lula Da Silva Warns
“Brazil is completely out of control. There is no health policy, there is no economic policy. Brazil is a ship aimlessly,” Lula lamented.
Bolsonaro Closes Brazil’s Embassy and Consulates in Venezuela
At least 38 people boarded in a Brazilian Air Force plane bound for Brasilia. Among the returnees were diplomats, officials, and their families.
Brazil: Congress Overturns Bolsonaro’s Social Benefit Law Veto
Brazilian National Congress overruled President Jair Bolsonaro’s veto of the Continued Assistance Benefit (BPC), a legal provision that ensures social benefits.
Thyssenkrupp, Embraer to build four frigates for Brazil Navy
The Brazilian navy website said the four-ship program will cost about $2 billion.
Paris makes former Brazil president Lula an honorary citizen
Brazil has turned its back on democracy since the election of Bolsonaro, Hidalgo told Lula at a ceremony, which was also attended by former President Dilma Rousseff.
Brazilian Landless Rural Workers Mov.: Our Hope Is on Lula
Rosana Fernandes, head of the Landless Rural Workers Movement (MST) in Brazil, acknowledged that former Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is the only one who „has the leadership“ to stand up to the current administration of Jair Bolsonaro.
Brazilian Leftist Senator Gomes Was Shot During Police Protest
Masked military policemen Wednesday shot the Brazilian Socialist Party’s Senator Cid Gomes during a police protest in Sobral city, state of Ceara, Brazil.
Brazil: Bolsonaro Is Pushing Teachers Towards a National Strike
Besides being harmed by a government that keeps their salaries low, Brazilian teachers are being affected by budget cuts that deteriorate educational infrastructure and materials.
About the judicial decision today in Brazil rejecting the criminal charges brought against me. In sum: this ruling, while good, is insufficient as a protection of core press freedom. We will continue reporting and will also go to the Supreme Court for an even stronger ruling:
Brazilian Judge Declines to Move Forward With Charges Against Glenn Greenwald “for Now”
In the absence of the injunction issued by a Supreme Court minister that prohibited investigations into Greenwald related to this case, Leite said he would have let the charges against Greenwald move forward. The judge also said that, if the Supreme Court injunction were to be overturned, he would be open to charging Greenwald.
‚Genocide‘ fears for isolated tribes as ex-missionary named to head Brazil agency
Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, the UN special rapporteur on the rights of indigenous people, said: “This is a dangerous decision that may have the potential to cause genocide among isolated indigenous people.”
BREAKING: Appointment CONFIRMED of evangelical missionary Ricardo Lopez Dias as head of the uncontacted tribes department in Brazil: ?????????? news for the most vulnerable peoples on the planet. Bolsonaro #indigenousUnderAttack
Brazil names Guedes to run privatization drive after shakeup
Brazil put Economy Minister Paulo Guedes in charge of its drive to find investors to buy state assets, a presidential decree said on Friday,
Brazilian Indigenous Tribes to Sue Bolsonaro Over Crude Remarks
The primary organization representing Brazil’s 300 Indigenous tribes issued a joint statement on Friday that threatened to sue far-right President Jair Bolsonaro over his crude comments.
Globalizing the War on Indigenous People: Bolsonaro and Modi
This is bad news for everyone, but minorities are particularly at risk as these demagogues claim that “their” rights must be sacrificed for the national good. Bolsonaro and Modi have already taken several significant strides down this dangerous path.
Bolsonaro: ‘More and More the Indian Is a Human Being Like Us’
On another occasion, he also said that Brazil should have followed Colonel George Armstrong Custer’s example in dealing “efficiently” with Indigenous peoples in the United States.
Racism is considered a serious crime in Brazil and can carry a sentence of up to five years.
Stand With Glenn Greenwald
In an obvious attempt to retaliate against The Intercept’s critical reporting on abuses committed by Brazilian judicial officials, prosecutors have filed a criminal complaint against our co-founder Glenn Greenwald.
There is no democracy without a free press. We ask advocates for press freedom everywhere to join in condemning the Bolsonaro government’s transparent effort to intimidate and criminalize journalists.
In Open Letter to Brazilian Authorities, 40+ Rights Groups Condemn ‚Attempt to Intimidate and Retaliate Against‘ Glenn Greenwald
A coalition of more than 40 press freedom and human rights groups from across the globe sent a letter Friday to Brazilian authorities condemning cybercrime charges brought against American investigative journalist Glenn Greenwald earlier this week as a clear intimidation effort for his reporting on key members of President Jair Bolsonaro’s government.
Greenwald, who co-founded The Intercept, lives in Rio de Janeiro with his husband, Brazilian Congressman David Miranda, and their family. The letter (pdf) initiated by Reporters Sans Frontières (Reporters Without Borders) and Freedom of the Press Foundation echoes journalists, politicians, and advocates worldwide who have expressed support for Greenwald since Tuesday.
EFF Statement on Glenn Greenwald Charges
21.1.2020
In free societies, journalists play an important role in challenging and criticizing governmental officials and scrutinizing their actions and policies. It is a threat to democracy when authorities use cybercrime laws to punish their critics, as the Brazilian government has done here with Glenn Greenwald, and it discourages journalists from using technology to best serve the public.
The Intercept Condemns Brazilian Criminal Complaint Against Glenn Greenwald as an Attack on Free Press
On Tuesday, a federal prosecutor in Brazil announced a denunciation of American journalist and Intercept co-founder Glenn Greenwald related to his work on a series of stories published on The Intercept and The Intercept Brasil. The denunciation is a criminal complaint that would open the door to further judicial proceedings. It alleges that Greenwald “directly assisted, encouraged and guided” individuals who reportedly obtained access to online chats used by prosecutors and others involved in Operation Car Wash, a yearslong, sprawling anti-corruption investigation that roiled Brazilian politics.
The denunciation will now go before a judge who can approve or deny the request for charges.
For years, @ggreenwald has exposed abuses at the highest levels of government and his investigative journalism deserves our support. If we allow the powerful to silence such journalists, our democracy and freedom is in peril. #StandWithGreenwald
Brazil’s Peoples: Bolsonaro Means Genocide, Ethnocide, Ecocide
After a four-day meeting carried out in Piaracu village, at the Mato Grosso state, in Brazil, over 600 Indigenous leaders Friday issued a manifesto denouncing the „genocide, ethnocide, and ecocide“ planned by the far-right President Jair Bolsonaro.
Brazilian tribes back manifesto to save Amazon habitat from Bolsonaro
The meeting in the village of Piaraçu on the Xingu river was called by Raoni Metuktire, the 90-year-old Kayapó chief who became an environmental campaigner in the 1980s with British rock singer Sting at his side.
Brazil: Bolsonaro Leads 2019 Record for Attacks on the Press
The latest example of the Brazilian presidency’s style occurred on Friday when citizens criticized the Culture Minister Roberto Alvim, who had previously published a video with clear Nazi connotations.
Brazilian Indigenous Leaders Mobilize to Protest Amazon Mining
A four-day-long tribal meeting among the Brazilian Indigenous leaders has begun in the Amazon to protest far-right President Jair Bolsonaro’s push to open their reservations for commercial mining and agriculture.
Brazil’s govt to propose oil exploration on indigenous land: media
However, many indigenous leaders have been vocal in their opposition to the government’s plans. Prominent tribal chiefs, including Raoni Metuktire, have toured Europe to defend their territories from deforestation and development.
Lula To Fight Neoliberalism to Restore Democracy in Brazil
„The days I was detained in the Federal Police (of Curitiba) strengthened me politically and today I have a greater will to fight until the restoration of democracy in Brazil,“ he said.
In addition, he stressed that democracy is a very serious issue and lamented that Brazil, which was previously a country where tolerance and love existed, now finds that hatred has been established in some sectors, promoted by those who seek to destroy the achievements made for most people in need. „The situation in Brazil is delicate … the people are suffering, they are losing their rights,“ Lula said.
Brazil: Attack on Guajajara Indigenous People Leaves 1 Dead
Firmino Prexede Guajajara died on the spot and Nelsi Olimpio Guajajara was shot in his leg. They were returning from a political meeting in which the defense of Indigenous territories was discussed.
Thousands of people are out now in São Paulo, in solidarity with Bolivian people.The death toll in nearly a month of demonstrations in Bolivia has reached 23, according to most recent report by Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
?: Elineudo Meira
Bolivia coup led by Christian fascist paramilitary leader and millionaire – with foreign support
(11.11.2019)
Bolivian coup leader Luis Fernando Camacho is a far-right multi-millionaire who arose from fascist movements in the Santa Cruz region, where the US has encouraged separatism. He has courted support from Colombia, Brazil, and the Venezuelan opposition.
By Max Blumenthal and Ben Norton
Germany and Brazil renew nuclear cooperation agreement; third nuclear plant to be built by 2026
Moreover, added Kotting-Uhl, with the election of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil now has a leader with a long-term plan to develop nuclear weapons. “He wants to complete the fuel cycle, that means the risk of Brazil producing weapons-grade material is very high,” she said.
UN condemns US blockade of Cuba; Brazil, Israel join US to oppose
(7.11.2019) Brazil and Israel were the only two countries to vote with the United States against the resolution. It was the first time Brazil voted against it, according to multiple reports.
Outrage in Brazil at the killing of an indigenous “guardian of the forest”
“Violence and death threats against the guardians have been happening for years,” Sarah Shenker, a researcher with Survival International who knew Paulo Paulino, said
“There is a lot of impunity. The authorities are unwilling to protect the indigenous lands,” Shenker charged.
“Their racist words and genocidal, anti-indigenous proposals give a kind of green light.”
Greenpeace said the two men were “the most recent victims of a state that refuses to comply with what the constitution determines.”
IIlegal loggers kill Amazon indigenous warrior who guarded forest, wound another
Paulino Guajajara, who was in his twenties and leaves behind one son, told Reuters in an interview here on the reservation in September that protecting the forest from intruders had become a dangerous task, but his people could not give in to fear.
Brazil’s Bolsonaro threatens to cancel license of network linking his name to murder case
Investigators have still not answered the question of who paid for the assassination. In September, Brazil’s top prosecutor charged five people including police officers and a former state lawmaker with sabotaging the investigation.
Brazilian soy farmers concerned with new Bayer biotech herbicide, Dicamba
Brazilian farmers are wary of the imminent introduction of a new genetically modified soy seed technology because of the risks associated with dicamba, a herbicide the biotech product is designed to tolerate. Widely used in the United States, dicamba has been described as a volatile product that drifts off easily and may compromise non-tolerant soybeans.
Rio de Janeiro has been in shock following the death of 8 year old girl Agatha Felix. She was shot on the back while on a car with her family. Most signs indicate the police fired the shot. This has been dominating the news for over a week and shocked the country.
Mysterious Israeli Businessman Behind Mega-deal to Supply Spy Planes to UAE
The fact that there are no diplomatic ties between Israel and the UAE and other Persian Gulf countries has not prevented the shared interests of the countries in the region to forge an extensive unofficial relationship, including in business, military and political spheres. In the case of Israel and the Gulf states, one main shared interest is their mutual enemy: Iran.
Israel businessman behind UAE spy plane deal
However, as Haaretz points out, “it is interesting to discover that Israel’s name is totally absent from the hundreds of thousands of words describing the transaction in detail. The only mention of the country is in one document originating in Switzerland that describes the structure of AGT. It mentions in German that Kochavi is an Israeli citizen.”
The Israeli daily also notes that this deal is not Kochavi’s first project on behalf of the UAE, pointing to the installation of thousands of cameras, sensors and license-plate readers in Abu Dhabi in a bid to turn the capital into a “smart city”.
Brazil’s Bolsonaro extols convicted torturer as a ’national hero‘
Last week, Bolsonaro replaced four of the seven members of a commission responsible for investigating disappeared victims of the dictatorship’s “dirty war” against left-wing militants. In their place he appointed military officers and members of right-wing parties.
Asked why, he replied to reporters: “There is a new president; now it is Jair Bolsonaro. Full stop.”
Bolsonaro Picks Military Dictatorship Backers to Head Agency Probing Deaths, Disappearances
Bolsonaro is trying to rewrite the history of a torturous “dictatorship that lasted for 21 years” and “deny it all” according to Psol leader Ivan Valente.
Sharp rise in Brazilian deforestation undeniable, says sacked research chief
The sacking of Galvao, a respected physicist and member of the Brazilian Academy of Science, sent shockwaves through the country’s scientific community.
‚Bolsonaro is Responsible for the Amazon‘ UN Rapporteur Says
„In practice, every time Bolsonaro fosters economic exploitation of indigenous lands through his speeches, he grants a free pass to economic and political interests wishing to exploit them,“ Tauli-Corpuz said. „Bolsonaro is directly responsible because the government has the responsibility of protecting its citizens‘ lives. And Brazil has signed all international human rights conventions.“
The explicit threats to basic democratic values and core liberties – including a free press – posed by the ascension to power of Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil are now being fully realized in response to our reporting. I’ll be on @democracynow tomorrow at 8 am EST to discuss this.
Brazil judge blocks transfer of indigenous land decisions to farm ministry
Brazilian Supreme Court Judge Luis Roberto Barroso on Monday issued an injunction suspending President Jair Bolsonaro’s move to transfer powers over indigenous land claims to the Agriculture Ministry.
Brazil’s Bolsonaro hands indigenous land decisions back to farm sector
Right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro issued a new decree on Wednesday putting decisions on indigenous land claims in the hands of the Ministry of Agriculture, four weeks after Congress rebuffed him on the move that is sought by Brazil’s farm lobby.
Brazil: Police Repress Rallies Against Pension Reform
In Rio de Janeiro, members of the Military Police (MP) monitored the estimated 100,000 demonstrators who took over the city’s main avenues, rejecting President Jair Bolsonaro’s proposal to privative the national pension program. As citizens protested late into the night, the MP dispersed workers and students by launching tear gas and shooting rubber bullets at them. A Brasil de Fato journalist reporting from the scene says she was trapped inside a car and felt the effects of the tear gas, suffering from burning eyes and throat.
WATCH: Glenn Greenwald Explains the Political Earthquake in Brazil Caused by Our Ongoing Exposés
The archive we received from our source is vast, and contains many more explosive stories yet to be reported. Just last night, we published another story exposing even more serious improprieties by Judge Moro, widely regarded as the anchor of legitimacy for the Bolsonaro government, that has led for more calls for him to resign. Because of the importance but also complexity of these issues for those outside of Brazil, we created a video explaining what this archive is about, what these revelations mean, and why the consequences of our reporting are so significant not only for Brazil but for the entire democratic world.
Thousands of public workers join the first general strike against Brazil’s Bolsonaro reforms
Protests have been held across Brazil as thousands of public workers take part in a general strike against a government proposal to reform pensions. The strike, the first since far-right President Jair Bolsonaro took office in January, has affected public transport, schools and banks.
Police used stun grenades on protesters in Rio de Janeiro. In several cities, roads were blocked with burning tyres. Mr Bolsonaro says the controversial reform will restore public finances.
EXCLUSIVO e NOVO: Sergio Moro, enquanto julgava Lula, sugeriu à Lava Jato emitir uma nota oficial contra a defesa. Eles acataram e pautaram imprensa #VazaJato .. por @rafaelmmartins, @demori, @ggreenwald, @amandafaudi
Brazil: Bolsonaro’s Lawmaker Threatens Intercept Journalist
Greenwald’s tweet was in response to threats of deportation by Brazilian far-right politician, Carlos Jordy. Last Sunday, Greenwald and a team of investigative journalists published an exposé in The Intercept outlining major judicial irregularities in the alleged corruption case against former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva that lead to his imprisonment since April 2018.
Brazil: Millions Protest Bolsonaro’s Neoliberal Pension Reform
Major national unions and social organizations strike (again) against President Jair Bolsonaro pension reforms, shutting down capitals and cities across country.
Bolsonaro Government Approaches Moro Revelations with Caution
Jair Bolsonaro (PSL) has yet to publicly react to the Sergio Moro and Deltan Dallagnol leaks, preferring to understand the full case before he acts.
Although the president’s allies have defended the Justice Minister, his aides have recommended that he wait for more revelations from the talks between the Moro, the former Lava Jato judge, and the operation’s task force members.
A lawmaker from Brazil’s Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL) and LGBT activist, David Miranda, got threats after his partner, #GlennGreenwald, published information on the political persecution against Lula da Silva. #VazaJato #FreeLula
Lava Jato leaks: Calls for Minister Moro to resign
Moro will appear before the Senate judiciary committee next week to explain the leaked messages, which were published on Sunday by The Intercept news website.
The report said the messages raised serious questions about Moro’s ethics as the judge who imprisoned former president Lula da Silva on corruption charges in 2017.
New Leak Shows Top Brazilian Judge Colluded With Car Wash Prosecutors
A new leaked conversation between chief prosecutor of the Car Wash (Lava Jato) task force, Deltan Dallagnol and current Supreme Justice Minister, Sergio Moro, allegedly show that Supreme Federal Court (STF) judge Luiz Fux was also part of the scheme against former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
The leak was made by The Intercept Brazil’s executive editor, Leandro Demori, during an interview on Wednesday. The messages show that Dallagnol took on at least once the role of interlocutor between Moro and Fux, while the federal judge was acting in tune with the two.
Brazil’s top court to review Lula case as leaks cast doubt on judge’s integrity
(11.06.2019)
Brazil’s Supreme Court said Monday it would re-examine an appeal by jailed former president Luis Inacio Lula da Silva in the wake of allegations that a prominent judge collaborated with prosecutors to convict the popular former leftist politician.
Exclusive: Leaked Chats Between Brazilian Judge and Prosecutor Who Imprisoned Lula Reveal Prohibited Collaboration and Doubts Over Evidence
(09.06.2019)
In the files, conversations between lead prosecutor Deltan Dallagnol and then-presiding Judge Sergio Moro reveal that Moro offered strategic advice to prosecutors and passed on tips for new avenues of investigation. With these actions, Moro grossly overstepped the ethical lines that define the role of a judge. In Brazil, as in the United States, judges are required to be impartial and neutral, and are barred from secretly collaborating with one side in a case.
Other chats in the archive raise fundamental questions about the quality of the charges that ultimately sent Lula to prison.
How and Why The Intercept Is Reporting on a Vast Trove of Materials About Brazil’s Operation Car Wash and Justice Minister Sergio Moro
(09.06.2019)
The Intercept’s only role in obtaining these materials was to receive them from our source, who contacted us many weeks ago (long before the recently alleged hacking of Moro’s telephone) and informed us that they had already obtained the full set of materials and was eager to provide them to journalists.
Informing the public of matters in the public interest and exposing wrongdoing was our guiding principle in doing this initial reporting on the archive, and it will continue to be our guiding principle as we report further on the large number of materials we have been provided.
Hidden Plot – Exclusive: Brazil’s Top Prosecutors Who Indicted Lula Schemed in Secret Messages to Prevent His Party From Winning 2018 Election
(09.06.2019)
An enormous trove of secret documents reveals that Brazil’s most powerful prosecutors, who have spent years insisting they are apolitical, instead plotted to prevent the Workers’ Party, or PT, from winning the 2018 presidential election by blocking or weakening a pre-election interview with former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva with the explicit purpose of affecting the outcome of the election.
Brazil indigenous affairs official fired amid push to develop reservation land
The right-wing president alarmed anthropologists and environmentalists by planning to assimilate Brazil’s 800,000 indigenous people and open reservation lands to commercial development, even in the Amazon rainforest.
Brazil Bar Association Demands Removal of Justice Minister
Moro ruled against Lula and rendered him ineligible to run in the 2018 presidential election at a time when all polls showed that the former president was the clear frontrunner. This gave far-right Jair Bolsonaro a strong lead that resulted in his presidency win.
Bolsonaro then, according to many, “rewarded” Moro by creating an unprecedented powerful position now called the “super justice minister,” which has complete control over all the judicial branch, policing and social control in Brazilian society.
Politics, Lack of Evidence Behind Lula Trial: Intercept Expose
On Sunday, Glenn Greenwald’s The Intercept Brazil published an extensive and hard-hitting expose on the alleged political motivations behind Operation Car Wash (Lava Jato) task force against former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and the Worker’s Party (PT), as well as the unethical involvement of current Minister of Justice, Sergio Moro.
Brazil’s military police killed 434 in 2019 in Rio de Janeiro
This became the most violent 90 days period in recorded history. The data did not include killings by the Rio de Janeiro Civil Police. The killing spree by the military police comes less than six months into the presidency of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro.
Last year, during the same period, 386 deaths were reported.
Over 1 million students and teachers went on strike and flooded the streets all over Brazil to protest against Bolsonaro’s education cuts. #ForaBolsonaro
(16.05.2019)
Brazil education cuts spur biggest protests yet against Bolsonaro government
Tens of thousands of protesters gathered in cities across Brazil on Wednesday to rally against education spending freezes in the biggest demonstrations to date against the government of President Jair Bolsonaro, who called marchers “useful idiots and imbeciles.”
Brazil investigators get access to banking records of president’s son in graft probe
A Brazilian court will allow investigators to examine the banking records of President Jair Bolsonaro’s senator son and his former driver in a money-laundering investigation, two sources with knowledge of the situation told Reuters on Monday.
Two Israelis Arrested in Global Dark Web Investigation
The suspects, in their mid-30s, were arrested during a joint investigation with the FBI and Israel’s cyber crime unit. Further arrests were made in France, Germany, the Netherlands and Brazil.
Bolsonaro To Sign Decree to Allow Carrying Loaded Weapons
“I’m going to sign [the decree] on Tuesday at 4 p.m. You can rest easy. CAC will not have a limit on the amount of ammunition and they will also be able to transport the loaded weapon,” Bolsonaro told a supporter Sunday.
Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro abruptly cancels US visit after protests
The cancellation, announced suddenly on Friday, came after the original venue ditched the event, the mayor of New York City attacked his presence and major corporate sponsors pulled out. Bolsonaro’s spokesman blamed ideological attacks from interest groups and Bill de Blasio, the mayor of New York.
Venezuelan Military Putsch Defeated as Leopoldo Lopez Takes Refuge in Spanish Embassy
Brazilian authorities also confirmed at the time that 25 soldiers who had taken part in the failed insurrection had taken refuge in the Brazilian embassy in Caracas.
Breaking from tradition, indigenous women lead fight for land rights in Brazil
Brazil’s indigenous women have been overturning tradition to step into the spotlight and lead an international push to defend their tribal land rights, which are up against the greatest threat they have faced in years under right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro.
Bolsonaro To Defund Philosophy, Sociology to Tackle ‚Leftist Takeover‘ of Education
Brazil’s far-right president Jair Bolsonaro said his minister of education is considering defunding philosophy and sociology programs from universities.
Top Judges Panel Reduces Lula’s Sentence to 8 Years
A Brazil special court of supreme judges ruled Tuesday to reduce the sentence of former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, from 12 years and 10 months to eight years and 10 months, which would potentially allow his defense to file for moving him to house arrest.
Macri Unrolls Measures to Manage Economic Crisis He Created
The „short-term“ policies are expected to provide relief while the IMF policy „does its job.“
French MEP Asks EU Council for Position on Lula’s Situation
Emmanuel Maurel seeks to break the European Parliament’s silence on the persecution against former President Lula Da Silva.
The French Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Emmanuel Maurel asked the Council of the European Union for a written position on the political and judicial persecution which led Lula Da Silva to prison.
Alan García, Ex-President of Peru, Is Dead After Shooting Himself During Arrest
When the authorities arrived at the home of the former president, Alan García, with an arrest warrant, he locked himself into his bedroom, shot himself and was rushed to a hospital, his personal secretary told reporters.
The charges relate to Odebrecht, a Brazilian construction giant, which last year admitted to $800 million in payoffs in exchange for lucrative contracts for projects including roads, dams and bridges.
Peru’s ex-president dies after shooting himself before arrest
Peru’s former president has died after shooting himself in the head to avoid arrest over corruption allegations, said officials.
The current leader of the South American country, Martin Vizcarra, confirmed that Alan Garcia had died, saying he was „dismayed“.
The American Museum of Natural History Will No Longer Host a Gala Honoring Brazil’s Far-Right President Jair Bolsonaro
The letter, which went live last Friday, has 590 signatories so far, many of whom identify as museum employees, students, university scientists, patrons, and anonymous museum goers..
New York mayor Bill de Blasio has also weighed in, saying Bolsonaro is a “very dangerous human being” and that he would “certainly urge the museum not to allow him to be hosted there.”
U.S. natural history museum will not host event honoring Brazil president
The museum had expressed concern over the event last week, saying it had been booked before the decision was made to honor Bolsonaro.
“With mutual respect for the work & goals of our individual organizations, we jointly agreed that the Museum is not the optimal location for the Brazilian-Am. Chamber of Commerce gala dinner,” the museum said on its official Twitter account.
Brazil’s Far-Right President Jair Bolsonaro To Be Honored At American Museum of Natural History Gala
Each year, leaders of the international business and finance community gather in the American Museum of Natural History for a black-tie gala hosted by the Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce. In the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life, under the blue whale, the attendees honor two „persons of the year“ — one Brazilian, one American — seen as best advancing the economic relationship between the two countries.
Hitler in Brasilia: The U.S. Evangelicals and Nazi Political Theory Behind Brazil’s President-in-waiting
(28.10.2018)
Mix up fascist geopolitics, Pat Robertson’s LGBT hate, Bannon’s nationalism and Putin’s shills and you get Jair Bolsonaro, who’s nostalgic for the U.S.-backed dictatorship that tortured and killed thousands of leftists – and he’s about to come to power
Israeli President, Yad Vashem Rebuke Bolsonaro for Saying Holocaust Crimes Can Be Forgiven
The controversial Brazilian far-right leader made the comments Thursday night at a meeting with evangelical pastors in Rio de Janeiro. He was applauded by those who attended.
„We can forgive, but we cannot forget. That quote is mine. Those that forget their past are sentenced not to have a future,“ Bolsonaro said, adding that actions are needed for the Holocaust not to be repeated.
Bolsonaro Swears in Conspiracy Theorist, Wants Young Brazilians to ‚Not Be Interested in Politics‘
Bolsonaro said kids should „not start getting interested in politics in school“ at the inauguration of his latest Minister of Education.
World Demands Lula’s Liberty on 1st Anniversary of Captivity
Programs and protests have been organized worldwide on the first anniversary of Lula da Silva’s imprisonment.
Brazilians Join ‚Free Lula‘ Caravan Heading to Curitiba Prison
Over 17 Brazilian capital cities will host civil demonstrations on Sunday, marking a year since the imprisonment of former leftist president Lula da Silva.
Brazil: Over 200 Lawmakers Form Bloc to Defend Indigenous Rights Threatened by Bolsonaro
A total of 219 lawmakers and 29 senators launched a new campaign on Thursday as part of Brazil’s Joint Parliamentary Front in Defense of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, a progressive initiative aimed at opposing the Parliamentary Farmers‘ Front, the „ruralist group“ which is linked to local agribusinesses.
Brazil’s president calls Nazis leftists after Israel Holocaust museum visit
Brazil’s right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro said “there is no doubt” that Nazism was a leftist movement, just after visiting Israel’s Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial and museum.
Brazil gives tacit nod to Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem- analysis
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro gave a tacit nod in the direction of Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem – including in the Old City – when he visited the Western Wall, one of Judaism’s most holy sites, together with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Brazil Asks Russia to Leave Venezuela if it Plans to Back Maduro
(31.3.2019)
The foreign minister of Brazil, Ernesto Araújo, says that the Russian military must leave Venezuela, if its purpose is to maintain Nicolás Maduro in the government.
In a telephone interview with the British news agency Reuters , Araújo has said he expects Russia to recognize that supporting Maduro will only deepen the collapse of Venezuela’s economy and society, and that the only way out of the crisis is to hold elections under an interim government, led by the opposition Juan Guaidó.
Brazil: Rightwing Venezuelan exiles hope Bolsonaro will help rid them of Maduro
(14.12.2018)
Phil Gunson, a Caracas-based Crisis Group analyst, said that despite Bolsonaro’s hard-line rhetoric he was “obviously not going to invade unilaterally”.
But it was possible the future leader of Latin America’s biggest democracy might provide diplomatic cover to some kind of US action.
Brazilians March Against Bolsonaro’s ‚Commemoration‘ of Military Coup
Several social organizations of Brazil were organizing Sunday various marches in the main cities of the country in opposition to President Jair Bolsonaro’s order to commemorate the military dictatorship (1964-1985) which came to power through a coup on March 31, 1964 against democratically elected President João Goulart.
Brazilian President Bolsonaro to Arrive in Israel on Sunday, 9 Days Before Election
Netanyahu hopes Bolsonaro will show willingness to move his embassy to Jerusalem during the four-day visit, which will also include the signing of bilateral agreements
Popularity of Bolsonaro government plummets in Brazil: Ibope poll
The government of Brazil’s right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro has seen its popularity plummet since he took office in January, with just a third of those asked approving of its performance, according to a poll published on Wednesday… Those surveyed who said they trusted Bolsonaro in the role dropped 13 percentage points from January to 49 percent. Those who say they have no trust in him jumped 13 points to 44 percent.
Colombian Red Cross Condemns Unauthorized Use of Its Symbol
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has stated on its certified Twitter account that they have noticed „some people not affiliated with Red Cross Colombia and Red Cross Venezuela wearing Red Cross emblems at Colombia-Venezuela and Brazil-Venezuela border.“
The international organization has urged these people “ to stop doing this. They might mean well but they risk jeopardizing our neutrality, impartiality & independence.“
Red Cross denounces unsanctioned use of its emblems to smuggle US aid to Venezuela
We urge them to stop doing this
Maduro Shuts Venezuela’s Border With Brazil
(Video)
Brazil: Prior Reports Warned of Possible Vale Dam Collapse
The audit by Germany-based TÜV SÜD, which was seen by Reuters, said the dam adhered to the minimum legal requirements for stability but it raised a number of concerns, particularly about the dam’s drainage and monitoring systems.
The auditor made 17 recommendations to improve the Brumadinho dam’s safety, primarily suggesting the company address various areas eroded away by static liquefaction.
In Jair Bolsonaro’s New Brazil, Far-Right Evangelical Billionaire Edir Macedo’s Media Empire Is Being Exploited to Investigate Journalists — Including The Intercept
(20.10.2018) The highly likely ascension to power of far-right extremist Jair Bolsonaro is already unleashing a climate in which journalists who are critical of him and his movement – including several writing for the Intercept – are being subjected to an aggressive campaign of personal investigation, attempted intimidation, and thuggish scrutiny of family members.
These attacks are being orchestrated by the media outlets owned by a far-right, scandal-plagued, evangelical pastor-billionaire, Edir Macedo (universally known as The Bishop and founder of the sprawling Universal Church of the Kingdom of God), who is now an explicit supporter of Bolsonaro.
#1638 Edir Macedo & family
Edir Macedo, founder of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, is among the richest religious leaders in the world and a Brazilian media mogul to boot. Raised a Catholic, he converted to evangelical Christianity in the early 1970s. In 1977 he founded his own sect in Rio de Janeiro, which follows „prosperity theology,“ asserting that faith and commitment to a church are rewarded with wealth. In July of 2013 he also became a banker after acquiring a 49% stake in privately-held bank Banco Renner, which boasts among the highest interest rates in Brazil.
Brazil’s Workers Party praises imperialist officials and Brazilian military involved in Venezuela regime change operation
The European tour of the Brazilian Workers Party’s (PT) 2018 presidential candidate, Fernando Haddad, meeting with and praising imperialist officials at the forefront of the regime-change operation in Venezuela, is yet another exposure of the party’s bogus claims to represent an “anti-fascist” opposition, both in Brazil and abroad.
Haddad was in Portugal and Spain in the third week of January in order to promote the formation of a so-called Progressive International, announced in late 2018 by US Senator Bernie Sanders and former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis.
As tensions in Venezuela heighten, Marco Rubio says US should ‚go big‘ on its relationship with Brazil’s new right-wing president
(29.1.2019) Brazil, Rubio argued, can be a „force multiplier“ in addressing the crisis in Venezuela.
Rubio suggested that the US should support Brazil’s ascension to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and its space capabilities.
The US, Rubio said, should capitalize on Brazil’s new right-wing government, saying previous leftist governments in the country „undermined“ its economic and political stability.
Minister Ernesto Araújo talks to OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro about the situation in Venezuela at the organization’s headquarters in Washington. @ernestofaraujo @Almagro_OEA2015 @OEA_oficial @Brasil_OEA @jguaido
(6.2.2019)
Brazil judge reopens probe into scandal tied to president’s son
A supreme court judge in Brazil on Friday overturned an injunction requested by President Jair Bolsonaro’s senator son that had frozen a probe into a suspicious payments scandal involving a former close aide.
The development dealt a blow both to the son, Flavio Bolsonaro and to the president, who has unsuccessfully been trying to distance himself from the growing scandal, which now also implicates his wife.
The divide on Venezuela: Who’s supporting Maduro and who’s following the U.S. lead in recognizing Guaidó
The 35-year-old Maduro rival Guaidó was largely unknown outside Venezuela until the beginning of this year, but he is now backed by the United States, Israel, Canada, and a number of South American countries, including Brazil, Argentina and Peru, as other governments are considering whether to throw their support behind the Venezuelan opposition, as well.
But Maduro isn’t yet as isolated as the United States would like him to be. The government’s key backers, Russia and China, continue to support him.
Here’s an overview over who is on which side, and why.
Vale eyes expansion of Brazil iron ore mine to feed Chinese demand
(20.9.2018) Mining giant Vale is looking at expanding its flagship iron ore project in Brazil, a company official said, hoping to cash in on a growing appetite for higher-grade varieties of the commodity in its top market China.
Hundreds missing in Brazil after Vale tailings dam breaks, area evacuated
The iron ore mining region is still recovering from the collapse of a larger dam in 2015 that killed 19 people. That dam, owned by the Samarco Mineracao SA venture between Vale and BHP Billiton, buried local homes in Brazil’s worst environmental disaster.
Brazilian miner Vale’s dam breaks in Minas Gerais state -report
The local fire department confirmed the dam break in Brumadinho near Belo Horizonte and told Reuters it has received unconfirmed reports of fatalities resulting from the incident.
Bolsonaro’s Son Linked to Suspect of Marielle Franco’s Murder
Marielle Franco, an Afro-Brazilian member of the Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL) and a feminist councilwoman who was critical of police violence and the right-wing government, was assassinated in Rio de Janeiro along with her driver Anderson Gomes the night of Mar. 14, two weeks after she was named a rapporteur in a special com
Brazil probe finds suspect deposits in Bolsonaro son’s account: report
The report on the National Journal, Brazil’s main nightly news program, said that the Council for Financial Activities Control (COAF) had identified 48 deposits made into the account of former Rio de Janeiro state lawmaker and Senator-elect Flavio Bolsonaro, the son of President Jair Bolsonaro.
Duque: Colombia Will Create Prosur To Replace Unasur
Right-wing Colombian President Ivan Duque announced on Monday that he and several South American leaders, including billionaire Chilean President Sebastian Piñera, are in talks to develop a diplomatic group, Prosur, to counter Unasur (Union South American Nations) begun by former Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez.
Hydropower Has Higher Environmental Cost Than Believed: Study
What’s more, dams don’t last forever. They need to be retired and dismantled and this bears a high financial cost, too. „The cost of removing a dam once its useful life is over is extremely high, and should be taken into account when computing the total cost of a new hydro development,“ Moran notes. „If the cost of removal had to be included, many dams wouldn’t be built. It would be far more expensive to produce a kilowatt-hour of electricity via a hydro complex with a useful life of 30 to 50 years, like those under construction in Brazil.“
Venezuela Welcomes 2,500 Cuban Doctors Leaving Brazil
Over 2,000 Cuban doctors are setting up practice in Venezuela after being kicked out of Brazil by President Jair Bolsonaro, Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro said this weekend.
Israel Aerospace Industries, Brazil’s Santos lab collaborate on agriculture drones
IAI, Israel’s leading aviation manufacturer, will provide its fully-automated BirdEye 650D UAV systems and analyze collected data. Santos Lab will operate the UAVs, equipped with a hyper-spectral wide-coverage imager especially developed to pursue the precision agriculture market.
Brazil: Environment Agency Head Resigns After Bolsonaro’s Trump-like Tweetstorm Attack
Suely Araujo, the head of Brazil’s environmental protection agency the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama) resigned Monday after far-right President Jair Bolsonaro criticized the amount of money it spends to rent vehicles, his latest attack on the agency.
Bolton to praise Bolsonaro, declare „Troika of Tyranny“ in Latin America speech
National Security Adviser John Bolton will declare the election of right-wing firebrand Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil as a „positive sign“ for Latin America while denouncing Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua as a „Troika of Tyranny,“ according to excerpts seen by Axios of a speech he will give at 1 p.m. ET in Miami.
US, Brazil’s new govt target Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed supporting a return to democracy in Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua with Brazil’s new right-wing government on Wednesday, in a joint effort against what he called authoritarian regimes in Latin America.
Pompeo and Brazil’s Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo considered deepening cooperation in the region at a meeting in Brasilia following Tuesday’s inauguration of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro.
Brazil’s President Bolsonaro Considers Opening U.S. Military Base to Counter Russian Influence
In the interview to the SBT network Thursday night, Bolsonaro said he is worried about Russia’s closeness with Venezuela. In December, the two countries held a joint training mission in Venezuela that was criticized by U.S Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
“My approximation with the United States is economic, but it could also be warlike,” said Bolsonaro, adding the base would be “symbolic” since American military power can reach any part of the globe.
Pompeo Tours Latin America with an Eye on Venezuela Regime Change
(4.1.2019) Miko Pompeo visited newly-minted right-wing governments in Latin America this week, rallying support for US regime change efforts in Venezuela.
Brazil: Governor Gives Shoot-To-Kill Order Against Criminals
„We need to have our Guantánamo, we must put the terrorists in places where society is definitely free of them,“ he said… According to Witzel, „the anti-terrorism law can increase the sentence limit from 30 to 50 years, increase the fully closed, no-visit regime in detached prisons, far from civilization.“
A Disaster for Brazil: Noam Chomsky on Brazil’s New Far-Right President Jair Bolsonaro
Bolsonaro is a former Army officer who has praised Brazil’s former military dictatorship, spoken in favor of torture and threatened to destroy, imprison or banish his political opponents.
Brazil to inaugurate far-right firebrand Bolsonaro president
One- of his cabinet are former army officers, mostly fellow cadets at the Black Needles academy, Brazil’s West Point, all outspoken backers of the country’s 1964-1985 military regime.
Brazil: Groups Pledge to Oppose Bolsonaro’s ‚Hateful Rhetoric‘
Forty-six environmental groups, academic organizations, human rights organizations, labor unions, religious groups and other civil society organizations – in a statement Friday – have pledged to oppose any „hateful rhetoric and acts of violence, intimidation or persecution“ by the incoming administration of Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro.
Netanyahu and Bolsonaro play up ‚brotherhood‘ but avoid embassy talk
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Brazil’s President-elect Jair Bolsonaro on Friday announced a nascent „brotherhood“ between their countries, though there was no word on plans to move Brazil’s embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.
Pompeo heading to Brazil for inauguration of far-right president
Pompeo will leave Washington for Brasilia on New Year’s Eve to attend Bolsonaro’s inauguration the following day before heading to Colombia. He plans to meet with Bolsonaro, who was elected in October with an agenda and style so similar to President Trump’s that he has been dubbed the “Trump of the Tropics.”
Bolsonaro’s Environment Minister Guilty of Data Alteration
Salles reportedly „violated legal norms“ to favor the economic interests of the Federation of Industries of Sao Paulo (Fiesp), the most influential business association in Brazil. Judge Martins also added that Salles and Fiesp modified University of Sao Paulo’s maps to benefit companies in the mining sector.
Indigenous Leader to EU: Sanction Brazil, Avoid Genocide
Brazil’s president-elect, a former army captain, also raised the prospect of building hydro-electric power stations in the Amazon and a rail line through the heart of the rainforest that would greatly restrict water access and forcibly remove Indigenous communities.
Brazil’s Bolsonaro says he will target Venezuela, Cuba
Bolton said Bolsonaro’s election was a “historic opportunity” for Brazil and the United States to work together on security, economics and other issues.
Maduro Rejected Invite to Bolsonaro’s Inauguration: Arreaza
“There is no place for Maduro in a celebration of democracy and the triumph of the Brazilian popular will all countries in the world must stop supporting it and join to free Venezuela,“ Araujo said.
Two Members Of Brazil’s MST Landless Movement Murdered
Two members of the Landless Workers’ Movement (MST) of Brazil were killed Saturday night in a rural area in the coastal state of Paraiba, gunned down by two hooded individuals.
Brazil: Bolsonaro Welcomes US Security Adviser Ahead of G20
“Bolsonaro salutes the Yankee empire’s warlord and tells him that Brazil will do everything that Master Trump commands! Brazil has never been so down to Americans even under Fernando Henrique Cardoso!”
U.S. Forces Participate in Brazilian-led, Multilateral Air Force Exercise: CRUZEX 2018
U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires a.i. William Popp said that “We are pleased to participate in CRUZEX 2018 led by our close ally Brazil with the participation of 12 other countries from the Americas and Europe. We are committed to increasing partner capacity and regional integration in support of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief events—one of the greatest challenges facing the region.”
Brazil’s Military Police ‚Invades‘ MST Camp to Expel 150 Landless Families
The MST has been referred to as a terrorist group by far-right politician and Brazil’s incoming President Jair Bolsonaro.
Brazil’s military police violently entered a camp ran by the Campesino Landless Workers‘ Movement (MST) Wednesday to expel 150 families that have lived in the territory Ze Maria do Tome, in the municipality of Limoeiro, state of Ceara, for four years.
‚We hope the regime lasts‘: When Israel enjoyed cozy ties with Brazil’s military dictatorship
Archival documents show how Israel helped prop up the Brazilian junta, supplied it with weapons and military expertise, and even signed a number of nuclear agreements.
Education Is in the Crosshairs in Bolsonaro’s Brazil
The president-elect seeks to ban from the classroom political opinions, debates, and any issues that could be construed as leftist.
Brazil: Army Chief Admits Threatening Top Court to Jail Lula
The comments by Army Chief Vilas Boas confirm the claims by Lula’s Workers‘ Party that jailing the former president was a political decision rather than judicial.
Brazil: Bolsonaro Threatens to Cut Ties With Cuba
In an interview published by Correio Braziliense newspaper, Bolsonaro criticized the Cuban-supported Mais Medicos (More Doctors) program, founded in 2013, under which over 11,000 Cuban doctors work in impoverished or remote parts of Brazil in an effort to expand the country’s healthcare coverage.
Universities raided and professors threatened as Brazil elects far-right President
The O Globo newspaper reported that at least 17 universities had been raided.
Tens of Thousands Protest Against Brazil’s New Elect-President
The protest was organized by the Frente Brasil Popular, a federation of hundreds of social organizations, including the Landless Workers, the Urban Homeless Workless Movement, labor unions associated with ACUT, and student organizations among others.
The Chicago Boy and His President
German business circles are placing high hopes on Brazil’s President-elect Jair Messias Bolsonaro pointing to the economic program of Paulo Guedes, designated to head a super ministry.
Far-right Jair Bolsonaro Wins Brazil’s Presidential Elections
Far right Jair Bolsonaro has won the Brazilian presidential elections with over 55 percent of the vote beating leftist Fernando Haddad who scored 44.3 percent in the country’s most polarized elections in decades.
Live Updates: Haddad, Bolsonaro Face Off in 2nd Round of Brazil Presidential Race
There are more than 147 million eligible voters in Brazil who will decide over the fate of their country in one of the most important elections for Latin America. Besides the president, voters will also elect governors in 13 states and the Federal District, as well as 19 mayors.
Brazil: Landless Workers‘ Movement Directive Arrested at Rally
Members of the Military Police of Caruaru arrested the national director of the Landless Workers’ Movement (MST), Jaime Amorim, Saturday when he was giving away propaganda in favor of the leftist candidate Fernando Haddad.
Norsk Hydro seals deal with Brazil over environmental dispute
(7.9.18) Brazilian authorities had accused Norsk Hydro of having contaminated the Baracena municipality’s waters with bauxite residues which they claimed had overflowed from a deposit basin at the Alunorte plant after heavy rainfall on
February 16 and 17.
They slapped Norsk Hydro with two fines of 10 million reais (€2.5 million, around $3 million) each and ordered the aluminium supplier to halve its production at the site and suspend the use of the basin.
Brazil: Supreme Court Rejects Temer’s Annulment Request
On Tuesday, Brazil’s Supreme Court rejected the petition by right-wing President Michel Temer’s defence lawyers to annul the Brazilian Federal Police’s (PF) accusation on corruption, money-laundering and criminal organization charges.
Brazil front-runner proposals could lead deforestation to ‚explode‘: NGOs
The letter also condemned plans to combine the environment and agriculture ministry, as suggested by Bolsonaro’s top agriculture adviser last week.
“The subordination of these functions to agriculture, in addition to demonstrating a lack of knowledge of the subject, would generate insurmountable conflicts of interest and jeopardize four decades of progress in protecting the environment,” the letter said.
Uruguay: Miranda Says Bolsonaro Threatens Brazil’s Democracy
The ruling party in Uruguay also said that the elections in Brazil are highly irregular as the most popular politician in the country has not been allowed to run for president: former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The Broad Front also pledged support for Brazil’s Workers Party candidate Fernando Haddad, who is running against Jair Bolsonaro in the second round of the presidential elections.
Brazil right-wing presidential candidate wins vote but runoff likely
With 92 percent of votes counted, Bolsonaro received 47 percent of valid ballots, far ahead of Haddad’s 28 percent but short of the outright majority needed to avoid an Oct. 28 runoff.
Live Updates: Polls Begin to Close in Brazil Elections
teleSUR brings you the latest updates from Sunday Brazil’s general elections which many see as a choice between democracy and fascism.
Outrageous Quotes That Prove Jair Bolsonaro is a Threat to Brazil’s Democracy
Bolsonaro, who is leading Brazil’s presidential polls, has a long history of embracing torture and making violent comments against vulnerable groups.
teleSUR English takes a look at the candidate’s eight most dangerous comments Bolsonaro has made during his political career to provide a glimpse into why many believe he poses such a threat to democracy and a “plural” Brazil.
Brazil’s Haddad Extends Support to 23% of Voter Intent: Poll
New polls released Monday conducted by Brazil’s BTG Pactual research company shows Fernando Haddad, the Workers’ Party candidate for the presidency, extending his support to 23 percent, increasing by 7 percent since the last survey by the same company a week ago.
Brazil: PT Candidate Fernando Haddad Widens Support, Now in 2nd Place
The pollster found that candidate Haddad has 19 percent support, 11 points up from the last survey taken a week ago immediatly after being appointed as the PT’s presidential candidate instead of former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
According to the results of this survey, Haddad comes in second place and would go to a second round to face far-right Jair Bolsonaro, the candidate of the Social Liberal Party (PSL).
Brazil: Court Rules in Favor of Dilma’s Senate Candidacy
With four votes in favor and three against, the Regional Electoral Court (TRE) of Minas Gerais, Brazil upheld the senatorial candidacy of former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff.
Chomsky: Lula Should Be The Rightful Candidate in Brazil
„There are several concerns, we are all thinking about the problems in democracy in Brazil, overwhelming problems. I can not fail to notice the absence of the person (Lula) who would be our rightful candidate in Brazil,“ Chomsky sais from Sao Paulo.
Switzerland Vetoes Building Munitions Factory in Brazil to Save ‚Neutral Face‘
The Swiss government scraps building a munitions factory in Brazil due to pressure from civil society groups.
Brazil: Federal Police Seek Charges Against President Temer
The police claim that Temer engaged in the crimes of passive corruption and money laundering.
Brazil Mourns Loss Of Its National Museum
Brazil’s National Museum is burning to the ground as rescue workers try to salvage what they can of the building that housed a large collection of Amazonian history.
Brazilian Court Rules That ‘Lula’ Cannot Run for President
Brazil’s top electoral court ruled on Friday that former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who is serving a 12-year sentence for corruption, cannot run for a third term, eliminating the front-runner in a race many see as a struggle between democracy and due process.
Mr. da Silva, a two-time president who left office in 2011 with a record-high approval rating, has become a polarizing figure. Many supporters remain loyal to the metalworker who rose from the factory floor to the presidency and improved the lives of millions of the country’s poorest, giving him a wide lead in polls ahead of the Oct. 7 vote.
Thousands March in Favor Of Lula’s Candidacy in Curitiba
On Thursday, in Curitiba, where former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is being held prisoner over unsubstantiated accusations of corruption, thousands of people marched and demonstrated to support his presidential candidacy.
Brazil: Human Rights Commission Recognizes UN Ruling on Lula
The National Human Rights Commission of Brazil recognizes the binding nature of the UN resolution on Lula’s electoral rights.
Brazil’s top court to rule in September on Lula plea for freedom
Brazil’s Supreme Court will weigh in September an appeal by jailed former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to be set free so he can join the presidential campaign already under way, a court spokesperson said on Monday.
UN Committee Vice President: Decision on Lula’s Politcal Rights is „Legally Binding“
„The precautionary measures issued are not recommendations, they are legally binding,“ according to the UN Human Rights Commission.
Brazil: Marielle Franco’s Family Requests Protection After Death Threats
Family members of slain Black activist and Rio de Janeiro city councilwoman Marielle Franco have requested state protection due to repeated threats and hate speech. The request was submitted to the State Secretary of Security, Richard Nunes, Monday, during a meeting at the Integrated Center of Command and Control (CICC).
Brazil: Thousands Turn Out For ‚Lula Livre‘ Festival In Rio
Exhibitions, live performances and cultural workshops dominated the day’s agenda as people of all ages joined together to call for Lula to be released from prison.
Mexico: Homicide Rate Breaks New Record, Jumps 16% in 2018
The current homicide rate, 22 per 100,000 residents, has placed Mexico nearer to the elevated homicide rates of Colombia and Brazil, which record 27 homicides per 100,000 residents.
Brazil: Dodgy Security Firms Linked to Eduardo Cunha Associates
The communications also pointed out that Torres had a secret partner in the private security firm, Pastor Everaldo, an ally of president Michel Temer, leader of the Assembly of God in Rio de Janeiro and presidential candidate during the 2014 election.
Chief justice of Brazil’s TRF-4 appeals court rules to keep Lula in prison
Brazilian former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva should remain in prison, Carlos Eduardo Thompson Flores, chief justice of Brazil’s TRF-4 appeals court, ruled on Sunday, in an effort to settle a legal dispute over his possible release.
Brazil: Military General Calls for Gag Order in Marielle Franco Probe
General Walter Braga Netto, leader of Brazil’s federal intervention in the state of Rio de Janeiro, has aligned himself with the country’s Senate-imposed president Michel Temer and issued a call for no information to be released to the public from the investigation into the assassination of Black activist and city councilwoman Marielle Franco.
Brazil: Munduruku Indigenous Nation Says No to Waterway Project
“How will we be able to cross the river?” asked Munduruk member Alessandra. “How will we go to the homes of our family members?“
Brazil: 5,580 Soldiers, Police Conduct Operation in Rio Favelas
Rio de Janeiro’s civil and military police force have united with Brazilian military soldiers to conduct a massive, 5,580 personnel-strong operation in two favela communities, Chapadao and Pedreira, on Thursday.
Brazil: Uruguay’s Jose Pepe Mujica To Visit Lula In Prison
Former Uruguayan President Jose ‚Pepe‘ Mujica will visit Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Thursday at the Parana Federal Police Superintendency in Curitiba, where the Brazilian presidential candidate has been held in detention since early April.
Danny Glover in Brazil
U.S. actor Danny Glover is in Brazil this week to meet the parents of murdered councillor Marielle Franco. He will also meet social movements and government officials to discuss the case.
Actor Danny Glover Joins Free Lula Occupiers in Brazil
On Monday, Glover had breakfast with the family of Marielle Franco, the city-council member and LGBT activist murdered in Rio de Janeiro. During a trip to Brazil to show solidarity with popular movements and leaders, actor Danny Glover arrived in Curitiba where former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is currently imprisoned to join occupier protesters at the Free Lula Vigil.
‚Free or Jailed‘ Lula Will Be Elected President: Dilma
Whether “free or imprisoned,” Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva “will be elected president” of Brazil following October’s general election according to former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff. Speaking during a visit to Buenos Aires, Argentina on Workers‘ Day she said Lula had become more than an individual, “he is an idea” that has “converted into the symbol of Brazil, of opportunities of which the people can grow.”
Brazil’s Indigenous People March to Protect Their Land
Thousands of indigenous people have marched in Brazil against a law signed by President Michel Temer last year that will strike off the map most of the country’s indigenous land.
International Day of Campesino Struggle Marked in Latin America
Every year, on April 17, social movements and Campesinos commemorate the International Day of Campesino Struggle to honor the 19 campesinos of Brazil’s Landless Workers’ Movement murdered by Brazilian military in the northern state of Para on April 17, 1996 during a protest to demand their right to land.
Brazil: Military Chief Accused of Intimidating Judges into Ruling Against Lula
“We cannot definitively destroy the fragile democracy that remains for us. It’s necessary that everybody maintains their responsibility and respect the Constitution and the presumption of innocence. It’s unacceptable that Globo insists on repeating the past and incite a coup,“ said former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff in response to Villas-Boas comments.
Brazil army commander ‚repudiates impunity‘ on eve of Lula ruling
Villas Boas did not elaborate. Calls to the army’s press office were not answered. Army representatives confirmed to Brazilian newspaper Folha de S.Paulo that the tweets were written by the general.