Brazil Deserves Better Than Jair Bolsonaro
The angry resignation of Justice Minister Sergio Moro promises to mire the country deeper in political crisis and economic misery.
From thumbs up to thumbs down.
Photographer: Buda Mendes/Getty Images South AmericaWhen a congressional back-bencher with fringe right-wing ideas took office last year, many Brazilians held their breath. Some hoped and prayed that Jair Bolsonaro might rise to the occasion, moderate his rhetoric and compensate for his lack of executive experience by delegating to a first-rate cabinet. Leave it to the adults in the room — Economy Minister Paulo Guedes, Vice President Hamilton Mourao, and Justice Minister Sergio Moro — and all would turn out well. We know now that was a fever dream. Moro’s acrimonious resignation on Friday, after accusing Bolsonaro of meddling in the justice system, is only the latest symptom.
Less than a year and half on, the former army captain has clearly neither risen to the task nor delegated to the able. Instead Bolsonaro governs by trial and error, second-guessing his ministers in favor of a bilious claque of kin and confidants. The result: Brazil’s presidency has shrunk even as the country’s challenges grow larger than ever.