Reader comments are listed below. Comments are currently closed and new comments are no longer being accepted. Excellent article - but one that is only one recent and visible example of the political and economic "feudalism" practised in all the over numerous North Eastern states.
Feudalism is a perfect description. It's ingrained into the very DNA of the region and has existed for hundreds of years with the tacit approval of the Catholic Church. Local press reported that the Sarney camp was considering suing The Economist presumably with public funds.
So much for the vaunted freedom of press - good luck. Why the legal action is puzzling as But the reaction does confirm your encroachment of what they perceive as a form of "divine right" to govern.
Incidently, this "feudalism" is not only confined to State poltics - the Federal Government "buys" votes voting is an obligatory civil right with T shirts and meal plans. And do not forget that Brazil harbors the most expensive for tax payers per capita legislator on the planet by a factor of several. The situation is truly disgusting in a country of such potential.
Nevertheless, Brazil is larger than its own incompetence. We hope. It's a bit like the house of lords then, except that Brazilians actually have the chance to vote. Sometimes when my friends and I are in a pub drinking and talking about politics, we agree that Brazil will jump over some steps of being a superpower, when these old colonels die.
