Brasilia — It takes a lot to get thrown out of Brazil’s Congress. Flagrant acts of bribery, violence and even murder have proved insufficient reasons for Brazilian legislators to strip their colleagues of office. In the latest example, senators protested vociferously last week after the country’s supreme court ordered the expulsion of one of their own: Aécio Neves, a former presidential candidate accused of corruption. They are expected to vote to reject the court’s ruling on Tuesday. While dozens of politicians have come under investigation since the start of the sprawling graft probe, known as Operation Carwash three years ago, Brazil’s parties have done virtually nothing to acknowledge mistakes or punish those involved. Their apparent lack of redemption has deepened Brazilians’ contempt for politicians, paving the way for outsiders to rise in polls ahead of next year’s elections. No less than 40% of Brazil’s 594 lawmakers face formal investigations before the supreme court, the t...
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