Brazil’s Depressing Election

Brazilians understand that their economy is in trouble: A remarkable 85 percent say their country is on the wrong track, and fewer than one in five express confidence in the government. Sadly, this weekend’s election offers little prospect of relief. Despairing voters have embraced extreme choices. The reforms the country needs will require consensus, and the controversial top presidential contenders seem unlikely to achieve it.

Brazilians have reason to be dissatisfied. The still-unfolding Carwash scandal has ensnared top politicians and business executives. With nearly 64,000 homicides last year, crime and violence and their associated costs are rising to record levels. Brazil is struggling to recover from its worst recession, which caused the economy to contract by more than 8 percent in 2015-16 and pulled millions of newly minted members of Brazil’s middle class back into poverty since mid-2014. Unemployment remains at more than 12 percent. Rising debt has left the government little room to maneuver.