Dilma Rousseff’s supporters are almost cheerful, missing no opportunity to proclaim that the political crisis that shook Brazil in 2015 and led to impeachment proceedings against the president has lost momentum. In private, they are worried.
Their main concern is that an almost two-year probe into a scheme of kickbacks in return for political favors that dates back at least a decade will expand and continue throughout her term. Investigators have shown no fear in targeting the nation’s elite, having already arrested corporate executives, a billionaire banker and officials from the ruling Workers’ Party — some of whom remain incarcerated.
Over the past month, a founder of the party and mentor to Rousseff, former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, himself has moved to the center of police probes into allegations that construction companies and car manufacturers provided him with perks in exchange for government favors. Lula hasn’t been charged with any crime, repeatedly has denied wrongdoing and says the investigations are part of a campaign to discredit him.
Brazil Energy Insight 
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