The nightmare of Brazil's once-dominant Worker's Party continues as charges have been filed against former President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva. The 70-year old politician, who served as the country's President from 2003 to 2011, has been accused of masterminding a graft scheme to keep the party's grip on political power.
The charges zero in on what is claimed as the root of Lula's involvement in widespread corruption, the New York Times reported. The former President and his wife allegedly connived to receive illegal kickbacks from a large oil company in Brazil, amounting to $1.1 million.
"Lula was the big boss of the Petrobras corruption scheme. Lula was on top of the power pyramid... Lula appointed several senior executives at Petrobras so that they could raise funds for political parties in the governing coalition [through corruption]... Without Lula's decision power, it would be impossible for this scheme to exist," alleged prosecutor Deltan Dalagnol in a report by BBC.
According to the Guardian, the corruption scandal was a key reason why ex-President Dilma Rousseff, who was Lula's Chief of Staff during one of his terms, was ousted from power in August. The impeachment came amid celebrations hed during the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro. It was the first time the Olympics was ever held in a South American city.
Despite Lula's touted involvement in corruption, he remains one of the country's most popular politicuans, largely because of his economic and social policies that improved the lives of many Brazilians who have lived under the poverty line. The charges may also stop the former President from seeking another run for Brazil's presidency in 2018. Brazil's laws forbid those with criminal charges to seek the country's highest elective office.
Lula, for his part, called the charges a "deplorable spectacle," saying that there is no evidence proving that he and his wife have ever dabbled in any corrupt activities during his time as President.
Watch the BBC's "Luiz Inacio Lula da Sila: Exclusive interview" here:
