Brazil’s ex-President Collor de Mello arrested after corruption sentence
Al Jazeera1 day
Former Brazilian President Fernando Collor Arrested, Ordered to Begin Sentence
Above: Fernando Collor de Mello, a former Brazilian president turned senator, delivers a speech during the debate on suspending and impeaching President Dilma Rousseff in Brasília on May 11, 2016. Image copyright: Evaristo Sa/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-government narrative
The arrest of Fernando Collor de Mello, a former president and senator, further demonstrates a continued effort in Brazil to fight corruption and ensure accountability for those abusing public office for personal gain, regardless of their political status.
Opposition narrative
This arrest is a further example of how the Brazilian Supreme Court has become harmful to the country's democracy, with selective enforcement against opposition figures. It's concerning that Operation Car Wash is valid only when the defendant is not aligned with the current government.