Question

Brazil's former Chief of Staff Jose is the main defendant in a corruption scandal.

Seven years after politicians were accused in a vote-buying scheme, Brazil's Supreme Court on Thusday started the trial of 38 people suspected of involvement in the scadal.

Eleven Supreme Court justices started the hearings in the capital city of Brasilia. The defendants are accused of using public funds to play lawmakers monthly bribes for their support during the government of President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva in 2005.

Lula's former chief of staff, Jose Dirceu, is among the defendants, along with other top members of his Worker's Party, bankers and businessmen.

The main accusation in what is known as the Mensalao scandal, which means "big monthly allowance," is that the Worker's Party diverted funds from advertising budgets - not for personal enrichment, but to ensure lawmakers passed Lula's initiatives through Congress.

Defendants have been charged with money- laundering, corruption and accepting bribes. They deny the allegations.

Brazilian media is calling it "the trial of the century." The trial is expected to last a month and could tarnish the Workers Party and Lula's legacy ahead of municipal elections.

But current President Dilma Rousseff, also of the Workers Party, has never been connected to the scandal.

In fact, Rousseff enjoys a strong approval rate of 77% among the Brazilian people. Many Brazilians' view is that she has taken a tough stand on corruption, tossing out six ministers who were suspected of misdeeds.

24. A qual escândalo que assolou o Brasil o texto se refere?

Answer 1

Olá, boa noite!

O texto se refere a uma série de corrupção que está infelizmente virando "rotina" na política brasileira