Corruption Allegations Rock Brazil's Governing Party

[cal04]

Brazil's ruling party was shaken Monday by accusations that it bribed lawmakers to maintain its coalition in Congress, raising fears of a scandal that could paralyze President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's government as it seeks to pass key reforms.

In response to the allegations, investors sent stocks falling that 4 percent before recovering slightly to close down 3 percent. Brazil's currency initially fell more than 2 percent against the U.S. dollar and ended the day down 1 percent.
Congressman Roberto Jefferson told the Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper that he first told top Silva advisers about the practice last year, but the payments stopped only after he personally informed Silva in January.

Silva, Brazil's first elected leftist president, did not mention the scandal during a speech in Sao Paulo on Monday, but his party denied the accusations. He then flew to Brasilia to meet with members of his Cabinet to discuss Jefferson's claims as a clamor emerged for a congressional investigation into the allegations. "These declarations are very serious, and the government now has a first-class crisis on its hands," said congressional minority leader Jose Jorge. "It will be very difficult for them to bar an investigation."

"The government has been placed on a very uphill road. It will not be ease for it to overcome this crisis," said University of Brasilia political science professor David Fleischer. Silva has never had a majority in Congress and depends on alliances with a patchwork of parties across the political spectrum to get legislation approved. A congressional investigation would delay or derail Silva legislative initiatives like labor and tax reform and a proposal to grant the Central Bank more autonomy - all important to investors. While investors initially viewed Silva with skepticism after he took office in 2003, he has gained Wall Street's support for embracing orthodox economic policies.

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGB4LZIEN9E.html

[Robbien]

1. If this scandal slows down the globalization and privatization

then hopefully the investigation lasts a long long time.

[Roland99]

2. Gotta protect that trickle-down economy at all costs.

[flordehinojos]

3. since Lula da Silva is a populist who is FOR THE PEOPLE and was elected BY

THE PEOPLE and the bushes don't want him in because he is not a corporatist guy--but one who believes in the people and in giving the people a better coutry ...

is there any slight chance that the bushes and their goons are possibly behind any of the rumors against Lula da Silva?

just asking ....