Former President Fernando Collor de Mello Arrested for Corruption, Marking a New Chapter in Brazil’s Political Downfall
Former Brazilian President Fernando Collor de Mello was arrested on Friday, marking a significant chapter in Brazil’s saga of political corruption. He has been sentenced to nearly nine years in prison for corruption and money laundering.
Collor de Mello, who was elected as Brazil’s first democratically elected president following decades of military rule, faced impeachment in 1992 over bribery allegations, ultimately resigning as the scandal embroiled his administration. Now, over thirty years later, he finds himself incarcerated due to accusations linked to the extensive “Car Wash” investigation.
The 75-year-old was apprehended in Maceió, a city where he has previously served as both governor and senator, according to confirmations from federal police. He is currently housed in a solitary cell within a specialized section of the Baldomero Cavalcanti de Oliveira prison.
In 2023, Collor de Mello was found guilty of accepting bribes amounting to 20 million reais (around $3.5 million) between 2010 and 2014. Prosecutors highlighted that he exploited his status as a senator to improperly facilitate contracts between a construction firm and BR Distribuidora, previously a subsidiary of the state-controlled oil company Petrobras.
Just a day prior to his arrest, Brazil’s highest court dismissed Collor de Mello’s last-ditch effort to annul his arrest warrant. His legal team stated that he was preparing to travel to Brasília to voluntarily surrender when he was apprehended by police in the early hours.
With Collor de Mello’s arrest, the list of Brazilian political figures facing legal repercussions continues to grow. Out of the seven presidents who have held office since the end of Brazil’s military dictatorship in 1985, four have been impeached, jailed, or convicted of crimes.
In recent developments, former President Jair Bolsonaro was instructed to stand trial on charges related to his alleged attempt to orchestrate a coup after his defeat in the 2022 elections. Additionally, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who began his third term in 2023 after serving two previous terms, was imprisoned for corruption during the “Car Wash” investigations; however, his conviction was subsequently overturned by the Supreme Court.
Fernando Collor de Mello first garnered national attention in the late 1980s as a dynamic, reform-oriented outsider, winning the historic 1989 presidential election against Lula. His campaign was characterized by promises of extensive political and economic reforms, resonating with a populace eager for change after years under authoritarian rule. However, his presidency quickly faltered amid rising corruption allegations that led Congress to initiate impeachment proceedings, resulting in his resignation in 1992 before the process could be finalized.
Following a hiatus from politics due to a period of ineligibility, Collor de Mello reemerged by winning a Senate seat in Alagoas in 2006, a position he retained until 2022. In his later political endeavors, he aligned himself with right-wing leaders and supported Bolsonaro’s unsuccessful re-election campaign in 2022, only to witness Lula reclaim the presidency.
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