Former Daily Show correspondent John Oliver took a humorous look at the Petrobras bribery scandal on his HBO show, Last Week Tonight. Top officials from Dilma Rousseff’s ruling Worker’s Party, including Treasurer João Vaccari, have been accused in the salacious bribery scheme that has incensed the Brazilian public. The scheme involved dozens of officials and a large money-laundering network.
“When they say taking bribes, this isn’t your standard 5 grand in an envelope left under a bench,” Oliver said in his lead-in. Prosecutors have identified at least $800 million dollars in bribes and campaign contributions.
“Eight hundred million,” said Oliver, pausing in disbelief. “You’d need an amazing construction firm just to build a bench large enough to hide that bribe underneath.”
The scandal provoked massive anti-government protests over the weekend, drawing over 2 million people into the streets in around 160 cities across Brazil. In response to the pressure, Rousseff introduced anti-corruption reforms that would bar corporate donations in political campaigns. She also made a video asking for people to be patient, saying that the bribery scandal was “transitory.” Oliver didn’t agree.
“Unless you flash everyone with one of those memory-erasing sticks from Men in Black I don’t think people are going to forget about this.”
Below you can watch the full video, which also makes fun of panelaço, the act of banging pots during protest, which is popular in Brazil, Argentina, and other Latin American countries.
Many of those banging pots on Sunday called for President Rousseff’s “impeachment” -- an Americanism in Brazilian Portuguese. Analysts say that impeachment is unlikely, because the President hasn’t been linked to any crime. The indictment of her Party’s treasurer many bring that link closer. However, she’s currently viewed as having been “cleared” of involvement, despite running Petrobras at the time the bribes were allegedly dispensed. Brazilians are frustrated, and so was Oliver.
“How has she been cleared? She chaired the board of Petrobras while the bri-- there’s only one way to handle this,” Oliver said as he brought out two pans and started baning them.
Full Video [Legendas em Português]
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