Brazil's top court scandal threatens to help Bolsonaro return to power

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 13 Oct, 16:20 · Archive

A scandal involving Brazil's supreme court justice Alexandre de Moraes, who convicted former president Jair Bolsonaro, could benefit his son's presidential prospects.

A scandal involving Brazil's supreme court has erupted just days before a closely watched presidential runoff scheduled for 25 October. The scandal centres on judge Alexandre de Moraes, who oversaw the case in which former president Jair Bolsonaro was convicted and sentenced to 27 years in prison for attempting a coup.

Investigations found that Moraes's wife's law firm held a contract worth about £20m with Daniel Vorcaro, a banker accused of orchestrating Brazil's largest banking fraud. Text messages also emerged suggesting a close relationship between Moraes and Vorcaro, though the judge denies the messages are authentic. At least four other supreme court justices have been found to have links to the disgraced banker, meaning half of the court's 10 current justices are now caught up in the scandal.

The crisis threatens to damage president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's re-election chances. Jair Bolsonaro's son, senator Flávio Bolsonaro, has blamed Moraes for his father's conviction and linked the judge to Lula in campaign rhetoric. Meanwhile, thousands of young Brazilians have taken to the streets supporting Lula and expressing fears about a potential return to power of the Bolsonaro political movement, particularly over concerns about its impact on universities and education.

How it is being reported

• In Brazil, thousands march fearing return of Bolsonaro presidencyThousands of young Brazilians have taken to the streets to support President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and voice fears of a return to power for the Bolsonaro political movement, amid a closely watched presidential race. Many protesters say they are worried about their future, particularly the impact a far-right government could have on universities and education. FRANCE 24’s Jan Onoszko reports from Brazil.France 24 · 13 Oct, 15:59
• How a scandal engulfing Brazil’s top court could return the Bolsonaros to powerThe judge who helped convict Jair Bolsonaro is caught up in a crisis that could benefit his son and damage Lula Marina Silva on Flávio Bolsonaro: He will try to finish his father’s ‘perverse project’ to destroy the Amazon Thundering to a crowd of thousands of far-right supporters in São Paulo on 7 September, Brazil’s Independence Day, the senator Flávio Bolsonaro focused less on his opponent in the presidential election , the leftist president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, than on someone who is not running at all. “Whoever votes for Lula is voting for Alexandre de Moraes ,” Bolsonaro shouted…The Guardian · 13 Oct, 11:00

In this story: Jair Bolsonaro · Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva · Flávio Bolsonaro · Alexandre de Moraes · Daniel Vorcaro · Brazil

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