Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Petrobras (Petróleo Brasileiro), Brazil's state-run gas and oil refinery, near Rio de Janeiro
country's current political elite have
immersed Brazil in a series of
scandals, involving corruption, misuse
of public funds, and abuse of power.
When the leftist, ex-trade union
leader Lula was elected president in
2002, the Brazilians hoped for a
democracy that favored the “majority
of society,” as promised in his
Workers' Party (Partido dos
Trabalhadores) manifesto. Re-elected
in 2006 by more than 60 percent of
the vote, Lula promises to rule on
behalf of the poor, even as Brazil's
underprivileged majority continues to
be ruled by a wealthy minority.
Brazilians, for the most part, are
united in their distrust and lack of
respect for their politicians and
a pioneer in the development of
advanced technology from deep-
water oil production.
Alongside Brazil's growing global
significance, there still remain deep
economic disparities and regional
differences. It is common to see the
super rich and the urban poor in
Brazil's major cities, mainly Rio de
Janeiro and São Paulo, two of the
largest metropolises in the world.
Inequitous growth is also visible not
only in the undeveloped interiors, but
also in the agriculture-dominated
southern region where there is a
rising number of landless peasants.
POLITICAL LIFE
Politicians have tremendous power in
Brazil, and many start and
make their way up through
municipal and state politics.
Some political positions
outside of the capital are
extremely powerful in their
own right, especially that of
mayor of one of the big
cities, or governor of a state.
Since 1985, when the
military dictatorship came to
an end, Brazil has been one
of the world's largest demo-
cracies. However, the
Supporters waving flags of Lula during his 2002 electoral campaign
