Two articles on the crisis of the Lula government in Brazil.
The most serious crisis in the Workers Party’s history
The declarations by the president of the Brazilian Labour Party (PTB), Roberto Jefferson, have provoked the biggest scandal the Brazilian Congress has seen since the Parliamentary Inquiry into the Budget, in 1992. It is also the biggest crisis suffered by the Lula government, and its first victim, José Dirceu, former civilian chief of staff and strongman of the Lula government, was forced to resign on 16th June. By José Correa Leite. Published in the July-August 2005 issue of International Viewpoint
Whatever happened to Lula? The travails of Brazil’s saviour-president
The landslide election win that produced left-wing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva promised the earth to the landless, and a new era for the country. But heavy debt and the growing stench of corruption is betraying his pledges to the people. By Andrew Buncombe Published 12 July 2005 in The Independent