Brazil versus Sleaze

The Documentary Podcast

BBC

Society & Culture, Documentary, Personal Journals

4.3 • 2.6K Ratings

🗓️ 7 January 2016

⏱️ 27 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

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 isn’t only the preserve of Brazil’s privileged, moneyed 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 – with a prolific presence on social-media - gained notoriety after it was revealed she ran council business remotely using WhatsApp. Prosecutors are investigating ten people and a potential fraud of $4 million. Meanwhile in Maranhao’s state capital, Sao Luis, a Governor with just a year in post, is attempting to bring a new broom to one of Brazil’s poorest regions – Flavio Dino claims to have cut expenses by thousands of Reals just by removing luxury items like seafood and champagne from state banquet menus. Linda Pressly reports from one of Brazil’s least known regions.

Produced and presented by Linda Pressly

Transcript

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0:00.0	This is a BBC podcast.
0:02.0	You can get all our podcasts and our terms of use at BBCWorld Service.com slash podcasts.
0:08.0	Brazil's in trouble.
0:12.0	Its economy is shrinking, its president threatened with impeachment.
0:16.0	The crisis is compounded by a corruption scandal that threatens to capsize the nation's elite.
0:21.8	So what is it with Brazil and Sleeze? I'm Linda Presley and this is assignment
0:26.4	on the BBC World Service.
0:31.8	I can buy whatever I want. I'm going to spend money on what I want and I don't care what people say about me.
0:39.0	Now, who do you think this might be posting to her Instagram feed?
0:44.7	A spoiled rich Brazilian heiress whose parents pander to her every win perhaps?
0:49.8	In overdone but immaculate makeup and sky high heels, that's exactly what this selfie queen looks like.
0:56.0	But she isn't. Here's a clue from her Instagram account.
1:00.0	Before I became mayor, I was poor. I had a land rover now I drive a Toyota SW4
1:07.2	Maybe I should buy a more luxurious car because thank you God I have enough money to do it.
1:14.0	Yes you heard that right.
1:15.7	This 25 year old used to be a mayor in one of Brazil's
1:18.8	poorest states, Marignell.
1:21.4	Lijiana Leichie became notorious as the
1:23.7	Watson Mayor of Bom Jajim, a young woman who ran council business
1:28.0	remotely using the social media app. This was only revealed
1:32.0	after Ligiana was accused with her cronies of stealing millions from the town's budget and then, like a storyline from a Brazilian soap opera, went on the run for 39 days.
1:43.0	She still was sending messages for the people that work in Bernhardi
	...

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