3 20 things to watch:
BRAZIL
1
The Unraveling of Democratic Norms Brazilian democracy is resilient, yet faces mounting challenges. The spread of COVID-19 in Brazil has, in many respects, amplified the tensions that existed before the health crisis between the president and the other branches of government. President Bolsonaro’s clashes with the National Congress and state governors and his use of misinformation, along with his repeated support for proauthoritarian protests, raise serious concerns about his commitment to democratic governance. Yet at the same time, congress, the courts, and state governments have taken a more active role in countering presidential power during this crisis, suggesting that the system of checks and balances that undergirds Brazilian democracy is still working. Nonetheless, policymakers must continue monitoring the situation for women, Afro-Brazilians, indigenous peoples, the LGBTQ+ community, and the country’s other marginalized groups—along with what may be a slow chipping away at fundamental human, civil, and press freedoms and rights.
Featured Experts:
https://www.wilsoncenter.org/brazil
Ricardo Zúñiga, Interim Director, Brazil Institute; Senior Diplomatic Fellow; Senior Foreign Service Officer, U.S. Department of State
brazil@wilsoncenter.org
Anya Prusa, Senior Associate, Brazil Institute
202.691.4087 / 202.691.4147
facebook.com/brazilinstitute @brazilInst
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