The Lula Legacy: Petrobras Oil Scandal
The Lula Legacy
During his administration, starting in 2003 and ending in 2011, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva had become enormously popular while the country enjoyed new economic growth and social reform. Lula’s social policies aimed to help those living below the poverty line shift into the middle class by focusing on inequality that had historically gripped the nation. Expansions in oil production and other consumer driven markets encouraged foreign investment and spurred the economy.
Many of the people who Lula had helped to rise from poverty and other hard-line supporters were shocked to find that he and others from the Workers Party were involved in multiple, far-reaching corruption scandals. “Deltan Dallagnol, a prosecutor, …show more content…
Petrobras (a state-owned oil group), Odebrecht (A Brazilian conglomerate), Braskem (Petro Chemical), construction companies, and other businesses that participated in the schemes were fined millions (in some cases billions) and had top executives imprisoned once tried and found guilty. Lula’s very own chosen successor, Dilma Rousseff, would be tangled up in what became known as the “Petrobras Oil Scandal” when Petrobras oversaw a contract rewarding scheme in which they collaborated with their competition to drive up prices and overcharge for services. Bribes and kickbacks were common throughout the government majority owned corporation. Before becoming the 36th President of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff was President of the board when Petrobras scandal took place. Rousseff has now been impeached after a painful Senate trial that resulted in a crushing 61 to 20 votes. “Nearly 40 politicians and business leaders have been jailed since prosecutors discovered the Petrobras scheme in …show more content…
You can now see the high-water mark where that wave crested and broke. The Workers' Party is now in shambles with President Dilma Rousseff and her predecessor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva embroiled in the Petrobras Oil Scandal. The nation has become deeply politically divided while Lula claims that the charges levied against him are politically motivated "witch hunt." Rousseff, Lula's hand-picked successor, is now facing impeachment proceedings due to record low approval ratings and illegal campaign contributions during the 2014 election. Federal prosecutors opened an investigation called “Lava-Jato” (car wash) that unmasked a “web of corruption the prosecutors uncovered has touched Brazil's highest levels of corporate and political power.” Corporate giants, lower house members of Congress, Silva, and other party members have been convicted or are awaiting trial. "The Odebrecht conglomerate, Latin America's biggest company, is based in Brazil, and its head was just sentenced to 19 years in prison for involvement in the kickback (Petrobras)
During his administration, starting in 2003 and ending in 2011, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva had become enormously popular while the country enjoyed new economic growth and social reform. Lula’s social policies aimed to help those living below the poverty line shift into the middle class by focusing on inequality that had historically gripped the nation. Expansions in oil production and other consumer driven markets encouraged foreign investment and spurred the economy.
Many of the people who Lula had helped to rise from poverty and other hard-line supporters were shocked to find that he and others from the Workers Party were involved in multiple, far-reaching corruption scandals. “Deltan Dallagnol, a prosecutor, …show more content…
Petrobras (a state-owned oil group), Odebrecht (A Brazilian conglomerate), Braskem (Petro Chemical), construction companies, and other businesses that participated in the schemes were fined millions (in some cases billions) and had top executives imprisoned once tried and found guilty. Lula’s very own chosen successor, Dilma Rousseff, would be tangled up in what became known as the “Petrobras Oil Scandal” when Petrobras oversaw a contract rewarding scheme in which they collaborated with their competition to drive up prices and overcharge for services. Bribes and kickbacks were common throughout the government majority owned corporation. Before becoming the 36th President of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff was President of the board when Petrobras scandal took place. Rousseff has now been impeached after a painful Senate trial that resulted in a crushing 61 to 20 votes. “Nearly 40 politicians and business leaders have been jailed since prosecutors discovered the Petrobras scheme in …show more content…
You can now see the high-water mark where that wave crested and broke. The Workers' Party is now in shambles with President Dilma Rousseff and her predecessor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva embroiled in the Petrobras Oil Scandal. The nation has become deeply politically divided while Lula claims that the charges levied against him are politically motivated "witch hunt." Rousseff, Lula's hand-picked successor, is now facing impeachment proceedings due to record low approval ratings and illegal campaign contributions during the 2014 election. Federal prosecutors opened an investigation called “Lava-Jato” (car wash) that unmasked a “web of corruption the prosecutors uncovered has touched Brazil's highest levels of corporate and political power.” Corporate giants, lower house members of Congress, Silva, and other party members have been convicted or are awaiting trial. "The Odebrecht conglomerate, Latin America's biggest company, is based in Brazil, and its head was just sentenced to 19 years in prison for involvement in the kickback (Petrobras)