Brazil versus Sleaze
A national corruption scandal has deepened Brazil鈥檚 economic crisis. But, as Linda Pressly finds in the poor state of Maranhao, sleaze is widespread.
Brazil is in trouble. Confronted with a massive downturn in the economy, its currency the Real has crashed, while its political class sinks in a quagmire of corruption allegations linked to the state oil company, Petrobras. But sleaze is not only the preserve of Brazil鈥檚 privileged, wealthy elite. In the northern state of Maranhao, a 25 -year-old former mayor is accused of skimming the budget of the municipality of Bom Jardim. Lidiane Leite 鈥� with a prolific presence on social-media - gained notoriety after it was revealed she ran council business remotely using WhatsApp. Prosecutors are investigating 10 people and a potential fraud of $4 million. Meanwhile in Maranhao鈥檚 state capital Sao Luis, Governor Flavio Dino, claims to have cut expenses by thousands of Reals just by removing luxury items like lobster and champagne from state banquet menus. Linda Pressly reports from one of Brazil鈥檚 least known regions.
(Photo: Lidiane Leite. Credit: Diego Chaves/O Imparcial)
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Clawing Back The Budget鈥�
Duration: 00:43
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- Thu 7 Jan 2016 00:32GMT大象传媒 World Service except News Internet
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