Workers' Party

A Brazilian judge has accepted charges against former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva for allegedly obstructing a corruption investigation involving state-run oil giant Petrobras, clearing the way for one of the country’s best-known political figures to stand trial.

After a brief intermission, Brazil’s gripping political drama is entering a new act.

Brazilian legislators pushing to oust President Dilma Rousseff appeared to have the upper hand Sunday night, with a wide margin voting to impeach her and cut short a term running through 2018.

Friends and foes of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff called each other “putchists” and “thieves” ahead of Sunday’s vote in Congress’ lower house on whether to proceed with her impeachment, as unprecedented levels of vitriol sparked fears of violence.

For all that Brazilians are disgusted by their corrupt and inept leaders, the country’s institutions are robust.

Brazil’s presidential palace announced Monday that Justice Minister Jose Eduardo Cardozo is leaving his post, a change that comes after political allies criticized his handling of a big corruption scandal.

Thousands of Brazilians marched Sunday to demand that Congress impeach President Dilma Rousseff, whose government is plagued by an overwhelming corruption scandal and a dismal economy.

Lawmakers scuffled on the floor of Brazil’s lower house Tuesday during an attempt to block a vote on forming a commission that will determine if impeachment proceedings against President Dilma Rousseff should go before the full body.

Impeachment proceedings were opened Wednesday against Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff by the speaker of the lower house of Congress, a sworn enemy of the beleaguered leader.

Brazil’s president-elect Dilma Rousseff has a swath of economic challenges in front of her.