Both sweeping immunity and overzealous prosecutions of former leaders can undermine democracy. But such prosecutions pose different risks for older democracies like the US than in younger ones.
Adoring fans celebrated Brazilian ex-President Luiz Inacio ‘Lula’ da Silva before he began a prison sentence for corruption in 2018. Lula’s conviction was recently annulled.
Miguel Schincariol/AFP via Getty Images)
From Europe to Latin America and the US, former world leaders are being investigated, tried and even jailed. In theory, this shows no one is above the law. But presidents and PMs aren’t just anyone.
With international trade facing its greatest threat in decades, this club of China, Brazil, Russia, South Africa and India will have much to say about it.
Brazil’s president, who came to power after his ex-boss was impeached, now finds himself embroiled in corruption charges, which threaten to derail the economic recovery he has championed.
Brazil’s political crisis is spiraling to a new level amid the release of recordings that allegedly caught the president authorizing a bribe. Fixing this mess will take more than a personnel change.
For Brazilian citizens, it sometimes feels like the whole country is on fire right now.
Adriano Machado/Reuters
The last time the country’s courts authorised such harsh police techniques as sleep deprivation and starvation was during the dictatorship.
Brazil’s President Michel Temer, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping and South African President Jacob Zuma.
Danish Siddiqui/Reuters
Despite financial crises and political differences among these five emerging economies, the BRICS coalition is here to stay. And it may just change the world.
Whatever you call it, the new leader, Michel Temer, has an opportunity to return Brazil to policies that promote growth through fiscally sound social inclusion. Can he do it?