CPI – Parliamentary Circus of Inquiry

Last week, we witnessed yet another spectacle from the circus set up in the Senate called the Carlos Cachoeira CPI (Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry). The defendant, businessman and racketeer Carlinhos Cachoeira, appeared to explain his relationship of active corruption with parliamentarians, businessmen, and media outlets. He entered silently and left silently, in a clear mockery of all those present who asked questions to the wind. Beside him, the powerful defense lawyer Márcio Thomaz Bastos, former president of the OAB (Brazilian Bar Association), Minister of Justice in the Lula government, and accustomed to controversial defenses, advised his client on how to mock justice within the law.

This same week, I read a publication from the São Paulo Law School of the Getúlio Vargas Foundation about a survey called ICJ (Justice Confidence Index) – Brazil – 1st Quarter of 2012. The crisis in the Brazilian justice system is not recent, and this survey shows how Brazilian citizens perceive some important democratic institutions. It is worth noting that it is a national survey conducted according to methods approved by the IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics), with a sample of 1550 citizens over 18 years of age, proportional to the population of each Brazilian state. It shows some interesting conclusions, which are very relevant to the Cachoeira Circus scandal.

In the category of Trust in Institutions, the Armed Forces appear in first place, with 73% approval from the Brazilian people. The Catholic Church comes in second place, with 56%. The Public Prosecutor's Office appears in third, with 55%, followed by Large Companies with 45% and the Print Media, with 45%. The Judiciary appears with 42%, the Federal Government with 40%, the Police with 38%, TV Stations with 33%, the National Congress with 22%, and in last place on the list, Political Parties, with 5%.

This research clearly demonstrates the disillusionment of Brazilian citizens with some important institutions and their clear confidence in the Armed Forces as the least corrupt organization compared to others. It's a simple translation of the fact that good citizens can no longer tolerate the same political circus spectacle where the performers change, but the story remains the same. It's clear that the audience of clowns can no longer stand watching this kind of show.

We must demand, within the law, an end to circuses and low-quality performers who don't know how to put on shows with even a minimum of decency. A Truth Commission was recently created to investigate past crimes, but where is the Truth Commission for present-day crimes? Our history is being built today and is full of crimes! This is the great truth.

Célio Pezza is a writer and author of several books, including "As Sete Portas" (The Seven Doors), "Ariane," and his most recent, "A Palavra Perdida" (The Lost Word). He maintains a site e a blog