MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Argentine inflation drops to 2.3% in January, helped by the freeze of several items
Argentina inflation decelerated to 2.3% in January, the official statistics agency said on Thursday, well below analyst expectations for a 3.4% rise. Read full article
Comments
Disclaimer & comment rulesCompare Alberto Fernandez' approach -- getting results but remaining modest and cautious -- with that of former president Mauricio Fiasco Macri, who in campaign promised to tame inflation as it would be the easiest thing to do and as soon as taking office made it shoot out of control.
Feb 15th, 2020 - 04:39 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Don't bother comparing, it means nothing in practical terms...only concrete results do....and controlling prices by 'freezing' them, may give the impression of temporary relief, but it's the same as granting subsidies.....someone's got to finance them, and they usually result in increasing the inflationary pressure.
Feb 16th, 2020 - 09:21 pm - Link - Report abuse 0But, let's see what happens when the prices are unfrozen...
JB
Feb 17th, 2020 - 10:40 am - Link - Report abuse 0RE “opening indigenous lands”
“Lower courts concluded not enough evidence to indict Temer”
Now the left is removed from power, Brazilian justice is back to functioning with its usual (in)efficiency. They even rescinded the law saying criminals should be jailed after the first appeal. Moro apparently can order the PF and COAF to investigate journalists who annoy him, but he can't speed up investigations on corrupt politicians? Did he manage to get any of those laws passed?
“Forget the USA… I live here, listen to ‘n have access to what you most likely don’t.”
The Guardian criticises Corbyn and other figures on the left regularly. Will you believe me if I tell you it's impartial?
“if I thought the ends justified the means”
That's the problem. If someone hacked Lula's private messages and released them, you'd be all for it. It's a very dangerous view; lots of atrocities have been carried out by people who think the end justifies the means. I also think it's one reason there have been so many coups in Latin America. Having the government they prefer is more important to people than democracy, law, or freedom.
“Despite the animosity, I’d say political adversaries”
Wonder what they'd say? A PSOL politician was assassinated, and B nearly was by an ex-PSOL member. In those circumstances, perhaps a certain amount of paranoia is warranted. How would you know if Wyllys underwent any stress? Or that the reasons given by the others who fled Brazil were 'bullshit'? You don't know them. As for Lula's reputation, he was ahead in the polls even after being convicted. The LJ team would not have been so worried otherwise.
Far as I can see the STF first said Lula could give interviews, then he couldn't, then (after the elections) he could again. And he gave at least a couple from jail. Political wrangling from the judges.
Re Mourão:
https://istoe.com.br/mourao-da-a-volta-por-cima/
DT
Feb 17th, 2020 - 02:56 pm - Link - Report abuse 0[Contn last post]
“Anything I criticize about Moro, you'll dismiss as ideology, like OA does”…wrong, but name one thing – besides the wire-tap - which was reprehensible.
I never said Lula was convicted for being gang leader, but the gifts, big or small, were illegal 'n the tip of the iceberg (PB corruption)...’n there’s still 7 cases against him. Can’t predict the future, so I won’t try.
[New post]
“Now the left removed from power, Brazilian justice back to functioning with its usual (in)efficiency”...Joking, right ? it’s the politicians in gen’l, ‘n especially the left that is ‘sensitive’ to a point of blocking justice :Toffoli & Lewand are what, other than PT puppets ? (mediocre ex-PT lawyers put in the STF w/o ever having been judges).
Who pushed for rescinding prison after conviction in 2nd instance ? Toffoli (since 2018, after became prez STF);
Who tried to censor the press (Crusoé)?: Moraes & Tofoli.
Who prosecuted a passenger who called him a thief ? Lewandowski.
Who recommended “juiz de garantias” which in effect would delay justice even more ? Toffoli.
Moro cannot order PF /COAF to investigate journalists…pure bs. (Independent) COAF investigates money transactions/offers info that can lead to investigations - no one outside can interfere, or request investigations.
The Guardian is probably more truthful about UK news because people have other easy sources to check it.
If Lula were breaking the ‘law’ (and he was trying to), ‘n someone published his conversations, yes.
Marielle’s death appears to have clear cause ‘n effect…just needs to be proved...(but not JB).
I’d say JW was stressed in BZL, 'n relieved to leave. No one had even heard of the others until they made a point of being noticed, all bs.
The STF (Lewandowski, alone) circumvented the law to allow Lula to give interviews.
Mourão : that's the press’ round-about narrative…reliable ? Don't know. Only thing sure was Carlos B’s hostility towards him...which they went crazy abt.
“Joking, right ?”
Feb 17th, 2020 - 08:35 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Nope. Too many powerful people are involved. They wanted to use the investigations against Lula and the PT, but now that's finished, saving themselves becomes the priority, and they are hindering them by any means necessary.
“Can’t predict the future, so I won’t try.”
You said before I should have patience WRT Temer. Now they have decided to let him off. The future looks pretty predictable - it'll all end in pizza. Except for Lula, of course; “For my friends everything, for my enemies the law.”
What Moro's done: collaborated with prosecutors, instead of conducting a fair trial. Directed them in dealing with the press to get the public (voters) on their side against Lula. Leaked details of plea bargains to smear various people's reputations. Leaked evidence to help the opposition in Vz. Passed decree 666 allowing to deport 'dangerous' foreigners after GG started releasing the leaks. And do you expect me to believe the Coaf was investigating GG and David Miranda by coincidence?
“The Guardian is probably more truthful about UK news”
It is truthful, but that's not the same as impartial. The two articles below are probably technically truthful - it's easy to find an expert who'll say what you want. But they're still hella biased:
https://i.redd.it/cbjbosg4hux31.jpg
”If Lula were breaking the ‘law’ (and he was trying to), ‘n someone published his conversations, yes.”
So press freedom, and obeying the law don't matter to you. Just which side the leaks serve.
You never heard of the other people who fled Brazil, but you're not in that sort of circle. Social media wars... enough people heard of them to get death threats.
Which STF minister authorised this interview?
www.rioonwatch.org/?p=42440
I don't know if the press was right about Mourão either. But like I said, he seemed to have a smaller role until recently. What did Carluxo have against him anyway?
DT
Feb 18th, 2020 - 04:46 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“Nope.Too many powerful people involved.” Sure are, but it’s the same shit in power (in Congress) today.
Lula’s a ‘fait accompli”, forget him…but what you conveniently insist on ignoring, is :
Feb 2015- J Vaccari Neto (PT treasurer) questioned ;
March : STF authorizes investigations into 12 Senators/22 congressmen for PB corruption ; August: J Dirceu arrested (in 2016, convicted on 2 counts, to over 20 years but remains free);
Nov 2015: PT senator Delcidio Amaral spills the beans on Lula (sale of Decree Laws to favor specific industry);
Feb 2016 : Lula presents defence.
04 March : accused of illegal enrichment (bribes);
09 Mar : Lula denounced by the MP of “SP”, rgrdng the “triplex”;
16 Mar : Dilma appoints Lula her minister (based on Moro’s leak, for which he’s reprimanded; G. Mendes revokes it 2 days later, ‘n keeps the investigation with Moro);
The rest we know. Now you seem to be a ‘big rush’ to see others convicted…many have been, 'n as perhaps not of equal importance, you hear little about them…but many are already free, tks to Toffoli’s tireless effort to suspend prison after conviction in lower collegiate court.
Who is ‘hindering’, is Congress & the STF (both have good reason to).
Re Temer, I fully expected /hoped to see him go to jail…evidence didn’t convince the STF.
Re Lula, more like “it’s not mine, it belongs to a good friend of mine”… Ah, Moro “collaborated” with prosecutors…again ? and suppose the defense lawyers “collaboration” (or collusion) with STF judges is irrelevant ? give me something ‘reprehensible”..(besides the ONE phone conversation, what else is there ? but be sure of your sources).
Moro’s Ordinance to deport “dangerous” people : Based on 1988 Constitution, ‘n applies to terrorism, association with armed criminal groups, drug trafficking, hooligans w/ violent history, child porn ‘n sexual exploration; expressly excludes deportation based on race, religion, nationality, social groups or (political) opinions.
Space..
It wasn't just Toffoli who voted to release prisoners until they had exhausted their appeals. The STF voted on the same issue before Lula was jailed and voted to lock him up. But in the general case they decided the other way. Maybe the lack of threats from the military this time around made a difference?
Feb 19th, 2020 - 08:47 pm - Link - Report abuse 0It's not that I'm in a big rush to see more people convicted, but that I'd like to see evidence that things have truly changed in Brazil. That it's not just the same shit in power, the same people pulling the strings and getting away with it. But, I don't think it has. The dismissal of the case against Temer is evidence of that. Before the election the people in power were more divided, because many of the other parties wanted to use the investigations/prosecutions against the PT. But now they are working together again, hence Toffoli being able to get Lula freed along with the other prisoners. That's my opinion.
”Moro “collaborated” with prosecutors…again ? and suppose the defense lawyers “collaboration” (or collusion) with STF judges is irrelevant ?“
Depends if you think two wrongs make a right. Would be better to stop both, right? Make it illegal if it isn't already.
”Moro’s Ordinance to deport “dangerous” people”
What was the reason for passing it at that point? Laws are usually made in response to some incident, not at random.
Forgot to say before, re Marielle's death, not much chance of proving involvement of anyone else now the police conveniently shot the guy accused of arranging it. Not more suspicious than Epstein's suicide...
DT
Feb 20th, 2020 - 05:14 pm - Link - Report abuse 0[Fm previous]
Re GG investigated by COAF: only a possibility raised by leftist journalist, ‘n categorically denied by PF, which emphasized the illegality if in retaliation to leaked messages ; COAF by law, cannot comment, but stated it doesn’t attend such requests (as I said).
Re Guardian “It’s truthful, but that's not the same as impartial”…so, “partial” - that’s my point…
“So press freedom, ‘n obeying the law don't matter to you”…Don't generalize – a specific case, ONE irregularity committed in order to prevent a defendant from escaping justice. Totally justified.
“but you're not in that sort of circle. Social media wars…” : 100s of people receive death threats every day…not all are worthy of notice, but doesn’t mean the press can’t make a meal out of them.
Unable to open the “interview” link…send again.
Your info on Mourão seems rather fuzzy, doesn’t it ? his differences with Carlos were over Olavo de Carvalho, whom Mourão does not like.
[New post]
“Wasn’t just Toffoli…” Correct – was the leftist group + a couple who usually sit on the fence.
The ’88 Constitution : allows prison after conviction in 2nd instance ; 2009 : a common citizen, after 2 nd instance conviction (murder), was released, appealed while free - jurisprudence, revoking prison after 2 nd instance ; 2016, based on another case (assault & robbery back in 2010), defendant WAS jailed after 2nd instance, so jurisprudence changed again – with prison after conviction in 2nd instance ; in 2018, the STF (6 x 5) reconfirmed prison after 2nd instance ; (just fyi : July 2017 - Lula convicted by Moro ; Jan 2018 : convicted in 2nd instance, by collegiate court ; STF denies Lula’s HC ; Moro issues imprisonment warrant ; April : Lula jailed ; STJ reconfirms Lula’s conviction, 5 x 0). Sept/Oct 2019, lefties within STF articulate to change jurisprudence, again…wins 6 x 5, to release all those convicted after 2nd instance, including Lula…but virtually, only Lula was released.
NEED SPACE, PLS
It was O Anta that reported the Coaf was investigating GG:
Feb 20th, 2020 - 08:03 pm - Link - Report abuse 0www.oantagonista.com/brasil/exclusivo-pf-quer-analise-de-atividades-financeiras-de-greenwald/
And my point about OA is the same as about the Guardian - even if it's truthful it can still be partial. (Though maybe the story above is NOT true?)
“Don't generalize – a specific case, ONE irregularity committed”
When it comes to laws and government, it's important to generalise, that's what makes it fair. Otherwise whoever is in power will make up the laws to suit themselves. Maybe I would decide free speech is important when I want to criticise Bolsonaro, but not when you want to criticise Lula.
In this case, the proper thing to do would be to reduce/remove the politicians' immunity. That would be fair, and would have allowed them to prosecute many defendants instead of only Lula.
I would take death threats a lot more seriously if I lived in Brazil. The police are way overstretched and sometimes corrupt, and it would be easy to pay someone to bump off your enemies. Besides, there are crazy people in every country, as recent events in Germany and London show.
Interview link: https://www.rioonwatch.org/?p=42440
“his differences with Carlos were over Olavo de Carvalho, whom Mourão does not like.”
Shows which of them has more sense; the last I heard of OdC he was re-'twitting' some daft conspiracy theory that Bill Gates created the coronavirus to reduce world population.
I'll leave the new post stuff so hopefully you can catch up. What you need is a second account...
DT
Feb 20th, 2020 - 09:38 pm - Link - Report abuse 0[previous]
“Evidence” ? Don’t expect anything to change overnight in Brazil, unless it benefits Congress.
“Depends if you think two wrongs make a right”…and you, are very selective – only Moro’s actions were wrong, right ?
Moro’s ordinance wasn't random…Constitution foresees it but Congress never bothered regulating it...until now.
”not much chance of proving involvement of anyone else now police conveniently shot the guy accused of arranging it”; 2 ways to look at it – yr interpretation, or, another, quite probable: was known Marielle had enemies within her own party (PSOL) who resented her growing political influence in their traditional strongholds (the 'favelas'), suggesting her death was ordered by them. The 2 ‘milicianos’ accused of executing her were caught, led to a 3rd ; later, the opposition tried to implicate Bolsonaro (didn't work); the 3rd, Nóbrega had escaped to BA ; BA's PT governor, coordinated the ‘hunt’; preliminary autopsy suggests an execution; were the police ordered to take him alive, or to kill him ? now, doubt they ever get to the truth….unless the two, jailed in Rio, talk…if they DO, probably be executed too.
[New]
“Anta reported Coaf was investigating GG”: So Anta reported tt PF ordered COAF to look into his finances to see if anything related to the hackers was found. IF they were, and found nothing, that's the end of it. Maybe someone from the PF raised the possibility...but the head of the PF denied it.
OK, even if truthful, sources might still “editorialize”. Important is to avoid 'fake' news, or outright lies.
“When comes to laws 'n govt, important to generalise”...disagree...the law may be general, but every case is different, circumstances determining different approaches.
“will make up the laws to suit themselves”...Congress & STF apparently do. And Govt can't stop them.
“removing immunity” ? utopia !!
Fyi, LJ has condemned abt 160, many more in the line...provided STF doesn't fcuk things up.
Need space. Tks.
“only Moro’s actions were wrong, right ?”
Feb 20th, 2020 - 10:43 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I said both should be illegal. But you think only the STF's actions are wrong, so who is being selective?
“Congress & STF apparently do. [Make up the laws to suit themselves.]”
They probably think that every case is different, circumstances determining different approaches.
The many decisions you listed, showing back-and-forth on prison after 2nd instance conviction, certainly don't show any kind of consistency. And the Guardian said 5,000 prisoners could be released along with Lula after the ruling. They might not be anyone you'd heard of, though.
“Moro’s ordinance wasn't random”
Well, no. A foreigner crossed him, and then he decided deportation of 'dangerous' foreigners needed regulating.
Re Marielle, she spoke out against the militia, and police killings. And she was murdered by militia members, and one of the suspects was killed by the police, preventing him from testifying. Rather proves her point, doesn't it? Who proposed this unlikely theory of her party being involved, and was it before or after Nóbrega was shot by the police?
As for Anta, either the journalist made up the story, or the PF lied one way or the other. Makes avoiding fake news pretty hard.
““removing immunity” ? utopia !!”
People were pretty indignant at that point. If it was the only way to prosecute Lula, as well as the other politicians, more might have pushed for it. Now, because of the bias in LJ, or at least the perception of it, Brazil is no longer united in fighting corruption.
DT
Feb 21st, 2020 - 07:02 pm - Link - Report abuse 0(previous post) : Nem’s ‘interview” : couldn’t find who authorized it but could only have been a judge, as it’s not foreseen in the Law. (probably turned Lula’s down because it might cause social unrest).
Nem’s ideas abt his ‘activity’, reminded me of when you said criminals “could” be persuaded to abandon crime…in Nem’s case (‘n others like him), good luck with that…it’s clear, if released, he’d never abandon crime. Even thinks he shouldn’t be in jail.
OdC is an extremist, nothing to lose/ just incentivizes B’s idiotic sons to do shit.
Mourão has shown to be very level-headed.
[new post]
“you think only the STF's actions are wrong, who is being selective?”
I am, ‘n most Brazilians - in 2017, its popularity started going downhill ; end 2019, 20% thought its performance was great, 38% only regular, 40%, disgusting ;amongst those with higher education, 80% think it’s crap (w/ exception of 3 or 4 judges), amongst those with little / no formal education, 50%.
The back ‘n forth shows a shift in opinion of mainly the ostensibly left-wing judges …which suggests they’re moved by ideology, not the law.
Lula ‘n (very) few others were released, but the driving force behind the last vote, was to favor Lula.
GG’s in NO danger of being deported, may be a nuisance but he ain’t dangerous…you’re putting the cart before the horse …you get a fixed idea then try to justify it.
Re Nobrega’s death (an execution ?), it’s not IMpossible that Bahia’s PT governor wanted him dead, to protect the left…neither that police in BA, with links to the Rio ‘milicia’ could have thought he was best dead, to protect “themselves”…Just saying, so I’m not jumping to conclusions, because they could’ve surrounded his hideout, forced him to surrender.,
Before his death, he’d told his lawyer they had no intention of taking him alive.
And it was the only way for Lula to gain immunity/ escape the Law…so ??
Brazil (i.e., 3 branches of govt) has “never” been “united” against corruption.
I thought the interview was quite entertaining. Even drug traffickers are disgusted with the corruption in Brasilia, and he tried to keep the peace in the favela because it was more profitable. What did you think of his idea that SP has less crime than Rio just because it has better organised gangs that prevent random violence?
Feb 21st, 2020 - 08:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“probably turned Lula’s down because it might cause social unrest”
Or because it might have helped Haddad in the election. This is another reason to have clear rules and stick to them instead of letting a judge decide based on circumstances. It would be fairer and there would be much less chance for money or ideology to interfere.
““who is being selective?” - I am, ‘n most Brazilians”
Why accuse me of it then, or complain about the left being selective when you are just as bad? And if the STS truly wanted to help Lula, they wouldn't have jailed him at all.
Sure, GG is not in much danger of deportation, but it can still be a threat, and a warning to other (foreign) journalists. Same as announcing that the Coaf is investigating him can be seen as a threat to any other journalist tempted to publish leaks. Most are not nearly so rich and famous as GG to ensure they get fair treatment.
Re Nobrega, not impossible, but you haven't given any reasons to think it's true. Whereas it's well known the police have links to the militias, as do the Bolsonaros to a lesser extent.
”Brazil (i.e., 3 branches of govt) has “never” been “united” against corruption.”
Indeed, but I was talking about the ordinary people, who did manage to keep the pressure on the government for a time with protests etc. I'm not seeing that any more.
Commenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!