Good morning! Today, Brazil’s high court judges finally move to take action against Bolsonaro. The president has a plan for Bolsa Família, but it will put Congress in a tricky position. Brazil is growing older earlier than expected.
Justices get into the ring with Bolsonaro
After two and a half years of issuing strongly-worded statements against President Jair Bolsonaro’s attacks on democracy, members of high courts in Brasília have decided to take effective action against the far-right leader. The Superior Electoral Court (TSE) unanimously decided to launch an inquiry into the president’s moves to discredit the country’s electronic voting system — and has asked the Supreme Court to include Mr. Bolsonaro in a probe into networks spreading misinformation online.
Why it matters. The president has threatened not to let the 2022 election go ahead unless Brazil reinstates paper ballots as a way to supplement the current voting system. For the first time, the courts are attempting to counter his intimidation.
- Against a president who doesn’t abide by the traditional codes of politics, attack appears to be the only form of defense for Brazil’s democratic institutions.
Danger. If seen through to its end, the electoral investigation could make Mr. Bolsonaro ineligible...