To the
Editor:
Contrary to the claim made in
your June 6 editorial “Brazil’s Gold Medal
for Corruption,” Brazilian members of Congress and ministers enjoy
no “immunity from prosecution under most circumstances,” nor against punishment
for crimes. They enjoy the “prerogative of jurisdiction,” by which those
authorities are tried by the Federal Supreme Court.
Moreover, the editorial bases
its conclusion on a fundamentally flawed assumption: that Brazil’s state
institutions are subject to the whims of politics. This is an outdated view of
Brazil.
Brazilian democracy has steadily
matured during the last three decades. A proof of that is the fact that we are
now in the midst of a second impeachment process of a president in less than 25
years, always under the strictest observance of the constitutional order.
Brazil’s Public Prosecutor’s
Office, the Federal Police, government agencies and the judicial system itself
rely on the wide support of a society that tolerates neither corruption nor
complacency in the face of corruption. There is no more room in Brazil to give
shelter to the friends of the powerful. The law is the same for all — including
presidents and former presidents.
Acting President Michel Temer
has stated publicly — and repeatedly — his firm commitment to the continuation
of the investigations that are underway, free from any political or partisan
discrimination.
Brazil should be awarded a
gold medal not for corruption, but, on the contrary, for courage in the fight
against corruption.
LUIZ ALBERTO FIGUEIREDO
MACHADO
Ambassador of Brazil
Washington
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