Skim 2
Skim- Week of April 17, 2017
Skimmed while in between classes
The Story- More corruption charges in Brazil
Who is involved? Judge Edson Fachin has revealed a list of many high ranking politicians who are now to be investigated in regards to whether they took bribes. These names were given by a construction firm in Brazil called Odebrecht, who has already paid over $1 billion in bribes. These names include almost a third of current President Michel Temer’s cabinet and a former mayor of Rio de Janeiro.
So what happens now? This investigation centers around Operation Car Wash and follows the initial wave of investigations into Petrobras, for which politicians offered favorable deals in exchange for bribes and campaign contributions. These bribes lead to the impeachment of former President Dilma Rousseff. The main political parties in Brazil have all had leading figures implicated over the course of this investigation and others that have been completed prior. The Brazil Social Democratic Party, Workers’ Party (Rousseff’s party), and the current president’s Democratic Movement Party all must face an angry electorate. One interesting note is that Mr. Fachin was chosen from five other Supreme Court judges because high court judges are the only authority able to try an active politician. Elections follow in 2018, and Brazil remains in a recession and debt crisis. Will Temer stay in power to even seek election? Will outside candidates win Brazilian hearts? Who else could be under investigation, and what will those investigations reveal? There remains a lot for Brasilia to sort out, and a great amount of uncertainty remains.
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Repeat After Me
When students are angry in Chile…
Thousands of students marched in Santiago to express their anger at current education policy. Students and their fellow teachers say that the private sector is hurting overall education quality and reforms are needed now. They also demand more accessible and equal higher education as well.
There was a response…
Despite peaceful protests, police launched tear gas into the crowd. All across the academic arena, President Michelle Bachelet’s policies have been strongly criticized. Ms. Bachelet has not followed through on her campaign promises of further reform as costs of higher education continue to burden the common Chilean.
It’s not the first time…
In the 1980’s dictator Pinochet “tore down” public education. The current president promised to restore it including plans for free university education, but these plans have failed thus far. Education issues will be key before Chileans go the ballot in November especially as economic growth as slowed.
Links:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-39574355