Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs
Brazil Initiative

In the News

Former President Lula da Silva to Serve 12 Years in Prison

April 11, 2018

Former President Lula da Silva has been ordered to surrended himself to authorities and will be serving twelve years in prison. He was convicted on charges of corruption and money laundering. The decision raised questions about judicial impartiality in the context of the extemly polarized political landscape of the country, with critics arguing that his impriosement was politically motivated. Lula was running for a third term as a President of Brazil. 

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Brazil mourns death of Afro-Brazilian advocate Marielle Franco

March 17, 2018

Brazilians in Rio are mourning the death of Marielle Franco, an Afro-Brazilian advocate who worked as a councilwoman of the city. A graduate of Brazilian public universities, Franco had become known for openly denouncing police brutality against the predomintantly black population of Rio's favelas. She was assasinated by an unindentified gunman after attending a forum addressing precisely this topic. 

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Brazil's military takes over public security in Rio

February 23, 2018

"Brazil’s president has ordered the military to take control of public security in the state. It is the first federal intervention in a state since Brazil’s return to democracy in the 1980s, and it is seen by some as a bid by the president Michel Temer, to improve his favorability ratings rather than as a measure to tackle crime.The decree signed by Mr. Temer falls short of a full intervention in the state government. While the military will take control of security, Gov. Luiz Fernando Pezão will continue to run the state government of Rio de Janeiro."  "The decree confers broad authority on the military to restore order. It also places police forces, which have had shortages of personnel and equipment, under the command of a general, Walter Souza Braga Netto, who oversees military operations in the eastern part of the country." Source: NYT.

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