We can expect to see, in Brazil, the political prosecutions that Sen. Elissa Slotkin promises Republicans should Democrats gain control of Congress.
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What happens next in Brazil? I don’t know, but no one seems too happy down there. The political divisions are serious, and it’s hard to see President Lula bringing people together. This is why Secretary Rubio did the right thing last week, as The Washington Examiner points out:
Secretary of State Marco Rubio was right to grant a visa to Brazilian presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro and his family. As President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, known as Lula, grows increasingly vindictive and authoritarian, the United States should make clear that political persecution has adverse consequences. Supporting freedom and democracy in Latin America means standing behind those whose right to challenge the government is under threat. Offering protection to an opposition leader in the region’s biggest and most populous nation upholds America’s principles and serves its strategic interests.
Bolsonaro and his family arrived in the U.S. this week after his defeat in the Oct. 25 election. His relocation was well timed, for following that close result, Brazilian prosecutors moved quickly to seize Bolsonaro’s passport. They say the conservative politician is under investigation for money laundering and is a flight risk.
The allegations against Bolsonaro are serious and, if Brazilian media reporting is accurate, also credible. Brazilian police are said to have financial records linking Bolsonaro to money-laundering schemes. Considering the grotesque scale of political corruption in Latin America, effective anti-corruption efforts are a priority.
Regardless of the evidence, however, Lula’s presidency makes it impossible for Bolsonaro to get a fair trial. Lula, who was previously imprisoned for his involvement in a vast kickback scheme involving Brazil’s nationalized energy company, seeks vengeance against anyone who dares to challenge him.
His animus is not limited to Bolsonaro. Journalists, opposition figures, and activists have all faced repression since Lula returned to power in 2023. Most visible has been the president’s fanatical focus on shutting down critical social media accounts. This crackdown has involved Lula’s politicization of the judiciary, including his stacking of the Supreme Court with partisan allies.
Money laundering? I had not heard that one before. It is funny how all these accusations always come out after a questionable election. My guess is that most Brazilians will hear that and file it in the political vengeance folder.
The problem is that no one trusts President Lula, or at least that half of the country that voted for Bolsonaro doesn’t. How can Bolsonaro get a fair trial, assuming the money-laundering accusations are true? We’ve already seen partisan judges go after his father! President Lula has put a target on journalists and anyone who disagrees with him.
Most Latin American countries will stay out of this because that’s what they always do. They don’t want to stick their noses in their neighbor’s affairs. It’s up to the US to defend elections and support democracy in Brazil.
Going after your opponents? Another ghost of the future? Maybe President Lula and Senator Slotkin of Michigan have been chatting online and exchanging tips about going after the other side. Remember Brazil when you vote on Tuesday because this is the kind of political prosecution that could be coming to a courthouse near you.
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