A‌ Lesson in Accountability: Brazil,Bolsonaro,and the Erosion ‍of Democratic Norms

The⁢ recent legal challenges⁣ faced by former Brazilian ‌President Jair Bolsonaro,and the surprising ‍support he’s received ​from former⁣ U.S. President Donald trump, highlight a ‌critical divergence in how democratic norms​ are being​ upheld​ – ‍or undermined – in the⁢ two countries. Bolsonaro’s rhetoric and actions following his 2022 electoral defeat,‍ coupled with the Brazilian legal system’s response, offer a stark‍ contrast to the situation ‍unfolding in the United ⁣States.

Bolsonaro, like Trump, refused to accept the results of his election loss, falsely claiming⁣ widespread⁤ fraud. This ⁢culminated in a⁢ violent insurrection in Brasília on January ‌8, 2023, mirroring the⁤ January 6th riot in ⁢Washington D.C.‍ fueled by similar claims ‌from Trump’s supporters.‌ Bolsonaro’s alleged role in inciting this unrest is now ⁢the⁢ core of his legal troubles. He even previously⁤ expressed ⁢a chilling sentiment, stating Brazil would only improve “on the​ day‍ that we⁣ break out in civil war here and do the job that the​ military regime didn’t ​do: killing 30,000.”

Trump has publicly denounced‍ the prosecution of Bolsonaro, labeling⁤ it a “witch hunt” orchestrated⁤ to benefit the current⁣ Brazilian President, Luiz‍ Inácio Lula da Silva, whom he describes as​ a “radical leftist.” However,the political landscape⁤ in Brazil is more ​nuanced. Lula leads the social-democratic Workers’⁢ Party,‍ while the judge ‌leading ⁣Bolsonaro’s prosecution, Chief Justice Alexandre de⁢ Moraes,⁢ is affiliated with the center-right PSDB and is known for his strict law-and-order approach.‍ De Moraes’ assertive actions were, in part, a response to a perceived lack of enforcement ​of the ‍rule of ‍law⁢ under bolsonaro’s appointed Attorney General. As the ⁣author suggests, ‍a parallel in the U.S. ​would be if Chief Justice ‍John Roberts Jr.proactively pursued ⁤legal action⁢ against a president deemed⁢ to be flouting the law.

This situation has prompted a degree​ of envy from some‍ observers in the United States. ‍ Bolsonaro, a leader who attempted to subvert the democratic ​process through false claims and⁣ incitement to violence, is being held accountable for his actions – both by voters and by the courts.

This accountability is central to a functioning democracy. political scientists distinguish between ‍”vertical accountability” – voters holding ⁤leaders accountable through‌ elections – and “horizontal accountability” – checks ⁤and balances between coequal branches of government. Leaders like Bolsonaro⁣ attempt to circumvent both, clinging to power despite electoral defeat and undermining⁣ autonomous institutions like courts and agencies. ​In Brazil, however, both forms of accountability prevailed.

Trump’s intervention ​in Bolsonaro’s case also underscores ⁢a missing⁢ element in the current U.S. governance: the influence‌ of advisors willing to challenge a president’s⁢ possibly damaging instincts. ​ For example, Trump’s recent threat ‌of high tariffs against Brazil, ostensibly​ to aid bolsonaro, carries important risks.Such tariffs could exacerbate inflation on essential consumer goods like⁢ coffee ⁣and orange juice, a politically sensitive issue‌ given Trump’s⁢ focus on controlling inflation in his ‌2024 campaign. Furthermore, the use of​ tariffs in this context undermines the stated⁣ justifications for such measures – protecting U.S. manufacturers or ​addressing trade⁣ imbalances.

the dynamic reveals a shift in global leadership. Once viewed as a⁤ model of democratic governance, the United States now⁣ finds itself observing – and perhaps learning from – Brazil, ⁤a ⁣nation demonstrating the importance of holding leaders⁢ accountable and upholding the rule of law. ​

(Based on the article by susan ​Stokes, Professor of Political⁤ Science at the University of Chicago, and Faculty Director ​of ⁢the Chicago‌ Center on Democracy.)