In today’s issue: Supreme Court delivers Operation Car Wash’s worst defeat. Government unorganized in the pension reform effort.
Supreme Court delivers Operation Car Wash’s worst defeat
By a narrow 6-5 majority, the Supreme Court decided that Operation Car Wash cases related to electoral crimes should fall under the scope of the Electoral Justice system—and not under criminal courts. The decision is a huge blow to the 5-year-old anti-corruption investigation that has put many politicians and businessmen in jail, despite having committed some excesses. Justice Gilmar Mendes, the most vocal opponent of the operation, suggested the prosecutors working for the probe are immoral.
Why it matters: Brazil’s Electoral Justice system is even more politicized than other superior courts. It is also short-staffed and overburdened. Not to mention its lack of experts on investigating sophisticated money laundering schemes. From any angle, this is a loss for Operation Car Wash. Its coordinator, Prosecutor Deltan Dallagnol, said “the window to fight corruption in Brazil is closing.” One Supreme Court justice said the decision could lead to overturning past convictions.
Context: Federal prosecutors and the Supreme Court have declared war on each other. Leaders of Operation Car Wash had asked for voters to...