Transparency International Anti-Corruption Helpdesk Answer Brazil: Overview of corruption and anti-corruption Author: Guilherme France,
[email protected] Reviewer: Maíra Martini, Transparency International Date: 29 January 2019 Corruption remains one of the biggest impediments to economic development in Brazil. It threatens recent strides made towards equality and social justice, and it has exposed the fragility of Brazil’s 30-year-old democracy. Over the last few years, Operation Carwash (Operação Lava-Jato in Portuguese) has uncovered one of the largest corruption schemes in history, involving billions of dollars, politicians and businesses from several different countries. While it is the direct result of legal and institutional evolution in anti-corruption policies, it has also demonstrated how much work remains to be done. Wide-ranging reforms on Brazil’s political system are necessary not only to fight and, especially, prevent corruption, but also to safeguard the country’s democracy. © 2019 Transparency International. All rights reserved. This document should not be considered as representative of the Commission or Transparency International’s official position. Neither the European Commission,Transparency International nor any person acting on behalf of the Commission is responsible for the use which might be made of the following information. This Anti-Corruption Helpdesk is operated by Transparency International and funded by the European Union. Query Can you provide an overview of corruption and anti-corruption efforts in Brazil? Contents Main points 1. Overview of corruption in Brazil — Corruption has led to declining public 2. Weakened democracy 3. Legal and institutional anti-corruption confidence in institutions and the framework weakening of democracy.