Chilean President Michelle Bachelet on Wednesday denied reports she received financial support for her 2013 campaign from a construction conglomerate that is involved in Brazil's huge Petrobras corruption scandal. Grupo OAS is among dozens of Brazilian companies that are embroiled in a kickback scheme that is the biggest corruption scandal in Brazil's history.
New corruption charges linked to Brazil's massive embezzlement scheme at Petrobras oil company were filed on Thursday against former president Lula da Silva, prosecutors said. A judge will now have to decide whether Lula, whose spokesman called the charges invented, should face trial.
Former Argentine President Cristina Fernandez Kirchner met with former Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva for an hour and a half at the Lula Institute in the São Paulo district of Ipiranga. Both political leaders discussed the situation of their countries and the region, according to a statement from the LI.
President Tabare Vazquez said on Monday that Uruguay recognizes the government of president Michel Temer, respects the decisions of Brazil emerging from its political situation and admitted considering giving asylum to Brazilian politicians, if contemplated under International Law.
Former Senator Delcídio do Amaral described as “surreal” the notion that former President Lula da Silva was not aware of a giant corruption scheme active during his tenure, in testimony on Monday marking the start of the trial against the man that ran Brazil from 2003 to 2010.
Brazil's attorney general on Friday offered a joking retort to former President Lula da Silva's remark that the corruption allegations he faces are due to a diabolical pact among different institutions, saying he is not a religious person. What I can say is that I'm not religious, Rodrigo Janot joked to reporters when asked about Lula's comments. Janot, who gave a press conference to review anti-corruption investigations this year, added that Lula was free to express his opinion.
Brazil must push ahead with reforms, including a proposed cap on government spending and an overhaul of social security rules, to restore long-term order to public finances in Latin America's biggest economy, according to the country's finance minister.
Marcelo Crivella on Sunday won the mayor's race in Rio de Janeiro, beating leftist Marcelo Freixo by a wide margin. Crivella, with the Brazilian Republican party, garnered 59.35% of the votes to 40.65% for Freixo, who is with the Socialism and Freedom Party.
Brazil’s national development bank has frozen $13.5bn of funds for 47 overseas projects, including those in Angola, Mozambique, Cuba and the Dominican Republic, as yet more corruption charges are brought against politicians and executives arising from the Lava Jato corruption probe.
A federal judge in Brazil ruled on Thursday that former President Lula da Silva will stand trial for an alleged bribery scheme related to work by construction giant Odebrecht in Angola. It's the second time in less than a month that a federal judge has ruled that Lula, a two-term president who left office in 2011 as Brazil's most popular president must stand trial.