This article's
lead sectionmay be too short to adequately
summarize the key points. Please consider expanding the lead to
provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article.(March 2021)
January 1: An apparent
gang riot at Colônia Agroindustrial prison in
Goiânia results in nine deaths and 14 inmates injured. Authorities report 233 prisoners escaped; 29 were recaptured, and 109 prisoners returned voluntarily.[1][2]
January 3:
Petrobras announces it would pay $2.95 billion to settle a
shareholder lawsuit in the United States stemming from the bribes and kickbacks in the
Operation Car Wash scandal. The company said in a filing with the
US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that it had been a victim of dishonesty but that it had decided that it was in its best interest to settle and minimize uncertainty and risk.[3]
January 24: An appeals court upholds the corruption conviction of
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, by far the frontrunner in the upcoming
presidential election. His sentence has also increased to twelve years and his lawyers plan to appeal. Lula has also expressed intentions of campaigning for office until physically prevented from doing so.[9][10]
February
February 1: Police announce that Postalis lost a billion
reals ($1.9 billion) to embezzlement.[11]
February 10: Police say they have found no evidence to support the charge that
Michel Temer caused a benefit to Rodrimar SA, who operate the
Port of Santos, Latin America's busiest port. A refusal was also shown, after a video made by cooperating witness
Rocha Loures of a conversation on the subject with Temer's legal advisor.[14]
February 16: Federal intervention begins in
Rio de Janeiro. This is the first federal intervention since the 1988 constitution, as General
Walter Braga Netto is appointed state intervenor. [18]
March 21: A
blackout that lasts more than 5 hours affects the
Northeast Region and the
North Region, as well as some cities in all regions partially. The electric energy collapse is caused by human error, after programming an erroneous circuit breaker at the
Belo Monte substation.[24]
April 7: Former
PresidentLuiz Inácio Lula da Silva gives a public address alongside his impeached successor
Dilma Rousseff at a steelworkers' union building in
Sao Bernardo do Campo, saying he will comply with an arrest warrant, despite maintining his innocence. Lula surrenders to police and arrives in
Curitiba to begin a 12-year sentence for corruption, after two failed appeals to have the warrant withdrawn.[32][33]
May 1:
Edifício Wilton Paes de Almeida, a 26-story tower block in
São Paulo, is destroyed by a fire and consequent collapse. Neighbouring buildings are also damaged by fire. Occupied by about 90 families, firefighters point to at least one victim in the rubble and 34 missing. Authorities warn the casualty toll is "likely to be high".[35][36][37]
May 21-May 25:
Truck drivers go on a national strike for five straight days. Drivers are protesting against the increase in fuel prices, the end of tolls for suspended axles, and tax reform related to truck driving. The stoppage has affected public and private bodies.[38][39][40]
June
June 11: The
Temer administration creates the Unified Public Security System (SUSP) to integrate security and intelligence bodies; standardize information, statistics and procedures; among several other measures aimed at integrating the
security forces.[41]
This article's
lead sectionmay be too short to adequately
summarize the key points. Please consider expanding the lead to
provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article.(March 2021)
January 1: An apparent
gang riot at Colônia Agroindustrial prison in
Goiânia results in nine deaths and 14 inmates injured. Authorities report 233 prisoners escaped; 29 were recaptured, and 109 prisoners returned voluntarily.[1][2]
January 3:
Petrobras announces it would pay $2.95 billion to settle a
shareholder lawsuit in the United States stemming from the bribes and kickbacks in the
Operation Car Wash scandal. The company said in a filing with the
US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that it had been a victim of dishonesty but that it had decided that it was in its best interest to settle and minimize uncertainty and risk.[3]
January 24: An appeals court upholds the corruption conviction of
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, by far the frontrunner in the upcoming
presidential election. His sentence has also increased to twelve years and his lawyers plan to appeal. Lula has also expressed intentions of campaigning for office until physically prevented from doing so.[9][10]
February
February 1: Police announce that Postalis lost a billion
reals ($1.9 billion) to embezzlement.[11]
February 10: Police say they have found no evidence to support the charge that
Michel Temer caused a benefit to Rodrimar SA, who operate the
Port of Santos, Latin America's busiest port. A refusal was also shown, after a video made by cooperating witness
Rocha Loures of a conversation on the subject with Temer's legal advisor.[14]
February 16: Federal intervention begins in
Rio de Janeiro. This is the first federal intervention since the 1988 constitution, as General
Walter Braga Netto is appointed state intervenor. [18]
March 21: A
blackout that lasts more than 5 hours affects the
Northeast Region and the
North Region, as well as some cities in all regions partially. The electric energy collapse is caused by human error, after programming an erroneous circuit breaker at the
Belo Monte substation.[24]
April 7: Former
PresidentLuiz Inácio Lula da Silva gives a public address alongside his impeached successor
Dilma Rousseff at a steelworkers' union building in
Sao Bernardo do Campo, saying he will comply with an arrest warrant, despite maintining his innocence. Lula surrenders to police and arrives in
Curitiba to begin a 12-year sentence for corruption, after two failed appeals to have the warrant withdrawn.[32][33]
May 1:
Edifício Wilton Paes de Almeida, a 26-story tower block in
São Paulo, is destroyed by a fire and consequent collapse. Neighbouring buildings are also damaged by fire. Occupied by about 90 families, firefighters point to at least one victim in the rubble and 34 missing. Authorities warn the casualty toll is "likely to be high".[35][36][37]
May 21-May 25:
Truck drivers go on a national strike for five straight days. Drivers are protesting against the increase in fuel prices, the end of tolls for suspended axles, and tax reform related to truck driving. The stoppage has affected public and private bodies.[38][39][40]
June
June 11: The
Temer administration creates the Unified Public Security System (SUSP) to integrate security and intelligence bodies; standardize information, statistics and procedures; among several other measures aimed at integrating the
security forces.[41]