Observers of American politics are looking across the Atlantic, to Europe, for comparisons in our history. But the best comparison has never been to the east of America, but to the south of us, in the democracies of Latin America. These are countries – our international neighbors – that share more of America’s roots.
Like us, they are founded on primal violence that casts a long shadow over our previous attempts at equality and civil society: the mythic enslavement and deportation and genocide of indigenous peoples. Like us, they have been hosts to ethnic and religious communities, aspiring to national projects that are not so much rooted in ethnic origins as in shared goals. And like us, these Latin American countries have a system of government, which has been strengthened by history, slowly and clearly, by the United States itself.
So in a sense, you can consider the events that happened on Sunday, January 8, in the capital of Brazil, Brasília, as another example in the twin crimes of our communities: as supporters after the ousted president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, they occupied large buildings. of the three branches of the federal government – breaking windows, theft and vandalism – Brazil seems to have had its own rebellion on January 6.
And the one who will benefit from the coup, former right-wing president Jair Bolsonaro, is in the United States himself, rioting in Orlando at the behest of the man who inspired him on January 6, former US president Donald Trump. On Monday, the day after the riots, it was reported that Bolsonaro checked into a Florida hospital, supposedly complaining of stomach pains.
Information about the nature of the Brazilian putsch, and the extent to which the Brazilian elite was involved, is still emerging. It is not clear, for example, how much Bolsonaro himself knew about the violence ahead of time; It is not clear how many of the rioters were talking to Bolsonaro, either before the former president left the country last month, or in the past few weeks, from his station in Florida. It is not clear whether Bolsonaro has friends in the legislature, as Trump does, who are willing to bend the law or help provide post-hoc justifications for a coup. It is not clear, as it is not clear in the United States, how much cooperation there is between the exiled thieves and their leaders, who rioted on Sunday, and the snakes in clothes in Bolsonaro’s camp. It is clear that there is a riot and it is clear that it is meant to restore the conservative leader to power after the election which was unfair and unfair. It is unclear how many felony convictions the Florida man has at this time.
Bolsonaro has long reminded American observers of Trump, and not just because of his right-wing politics and his indifference to democratic checks on his authority. When he was sworn in in 2019, after a corruption scandal and hotly impeached, Bolsonaro angered Brazilians as much with his political positions as with his foul mouth.
It seems like forever, he always causes anger and hatred for outsiders, but he also always tries to scare and titillate his fearful fans – something like a cross between Mussolini and Howard Stern. After an unknown career as a member of parliament, when he rose to national prominence, he suddenly started issuing some small, shocking cases. He said, “I can’t love a gay man.” He declared a female political opponent “not worthy of rape”. He praised the dictatorship of the military, called for the punishment of drug traffickers and the strengthening of violence by police officers. “A policeman who does not kill”, he once said, “is not a policeman.” In photos with his supporters, Donald Trump flashed a smile and gave the camera a thumbs up. Bolsonaro likes to be photographed posing as if he is holding a gun.
The violence is also similar. Rioters in Brasília occupied government buildings after setting up camp outside military headquarters, apparently hoping for a coup. When the soldiers failed to join them, they marched to the presidential palace, the parliament and the supreme court, carrying Brazilian flags, many of them dressed in the right colors of yellow and green.
While the January 6 protesters have a unique way of trying to disrupt, and a man – Mike Pence – trying to intimidate and persuade, the Brazilian rioters seem to be less direct in their violence. , perhaps hoping to force a transfer. of the power and strength of their existence only. Like their American counterparts, they razed buildings and raged on the ground; The Guardian’s Tom Phillips reported that members of the group rioted in the presidential press conference room, perhaps as a sign of Bolsonaro’s attitude towards the media. And like the Americans, they seem to have at least some support from the police. If the American protestors were filled with police and veterans, the Brazilian protestors met with no resistance from the federal district security officers. The Supreme Court has suspended the governor of Brasília, a friend of Bolsonaro, from his office because of his involvement in the riots.
But one big difference is how Brazilians responded to this threat to their democracy. After the Jan. 6 riots, the Biden administration reportedly pushed for the impeachment of Donald Trump, and conservative Democrats in Congress wanted to pursue a more conservative strategy. ; Over the years, the Department of Justice has been red-handed, over-the-top, and seemingly unable or unwilling to do anything but allow Trump and his cronies to sabotage the democratic system without any punishment.
Not so for Brazilians. The new leader of the Socialists, Lula de Silva, immediately denounced the protesters as “fascists,” and admitted, with unflinching honesty, that in American politician, told his citizens that they cannot trust all the police. the army. As of Monday, photos have been published that allegedly show Brazilian rioters being held by police in a shopping mall. The Brazilian federal army, says David Adler of Progressive International, “interrogates the rebels one by one and accuses them of their crimes”. The police’s display of violence, and the promise of justice for the crimes of conservatives, were a reminder: there are many ways in which Brazil is not like the United States.
Moira Donegan is an American columnist for the Guardian newspaper
How are the governments in Brazil and the United States different?
Moreover, all of them have granted autonomy to their states, of which the United States has 50 and Brazil 26, which allows each state to govern itself. On the same subject : US and Turkey take joint action to disrupt ISIS…. However, while the US government faces its share of corruption, Brazil’s government is more corrupt in comparison.
Why is Brazil different from other countries? Brazil is not unique in the Americas because after gaining independence from Portugal, it was not divided into different countries like Britain and Spain had in the region; rather, it has continued through centuries and various forms of government.
How does the government in Brazil work?
Brazil is a federal constitutional republic, based on a representative democracy. The federal government has three independent branches: the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary. Executive power is exercised by the executive branch, headed by the president, who is advised by the cabinet.
How are Brazil and the United States similar?
In addition, both the United States and Brazil have written constitutions and their forms of government are the same: they are both democracies. This may interest you : When is the 2022 US Grand Prix and how can I watch it?. The last similarity is that the nightlife of Brazil and the United States is the same, because in both countries you can find good songs to dance to, different styles of music and good places to have fun.
What type of government is found in Brazil?
Brazil is a federal constitutional republic, based on representative democracy. See the article : US Says It Is Not Considering Joint Nuclear Exercises with South Korea. The federal government has three independent branches: the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary.
How does Brazil’s political system work?
Brazil is a federal constitutional republic, based on a representative democracy. The federal government has three independent branches: the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary. Executive power is exercised by the executive branch, headed by the president, who is advised by the cabinet.
What kind of government is Brazil under? Brazil is a federal constitutional republic, based on representative democracy. The federal government has three independent branches: the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary. The Federal Constitution is the main law of Brazil.
What is Brazil known for and what makes it unique?
Brazil is famous for its beautiful beaches, forests, and diverse cities. It is known as the country of football with famous footballers such as Pelé and Neymar born there.
What is Brazil known for? What is Brazil famous for?
- #1. Amazon Rainforest and Amazon River.
- #2. New 7 Wonders of the World: Christ the Redeemer.
- #3. Caipirinhas.
- #4. Carnival
- #5. Soccer
- #6. Interesting buildings and UNESCO sites.
- #7. Beautiful Coastlines and Beaches.
- #8. Cities of Color Color.
What is the most interesting fact about Brazil?
Brazil is the largest country in South America and the fifth largest country in the world. The country consists of three time zones! Brazil is also the largest country in the South because it is bigger than Australia. The Amazon River is the second longest river in the world.
