Substantive Justice in the Case of Corruption in Brazil: The Lava Jato Process and its Legal and Social Implications
La Justicia Sustantiva en el Caso de la Corrupción en Brasil: El Proceso Lava Jato y sus Implicaciones Jurídicas y Sociales
Keywords:
Lava Jato, substantive justice, corruption, Brazil, judicial systemAbstract
This article analyzes the Lava Jato (Car Wash) case in Brazil as a paradigmatic example of the challenges substantive justice faces when confronted with structural corruption. Using an interdisciplinary approach, it examines how the judicial system responded to the scandal and explores its social, political, and economic consequences. The paper argues that although Lava Jato was initially celebrated as a step forward in combating impunity, its evolution revealed tensions between formal legality and substantive justice—particularly regarding due process, punitive selectivity, and the political use of judicial mechanisms. The article offers a critical reading of the case to reflect on the limitations of criminal law in systemic corruption contexts, emphasizing the need for institutional reforms that combine effectiveness with respect for democratic principles.
Este artículo analiza el caso Lava Jato en Brasil como ejemplo paradigmático de los desafíos que enfrenta la justicia sustantiva frente a la corrupción estructural. A través de un enfoque interdisciplinario, se examina cómo el sistema judicial respondió al escándalo, así como los efectos sociales, políticos y económicos del proceso. Se plantea que, si bien Lava Jato fue celebrado inicialmente como un avance en la lucha contra la impunidad, su evolución mostró tensiones entre legalidad formal y equidad sustantiva, especialmente en cuanto al debido proceso, la selectividad punitiva y el uso político del sistema judicial. El artículo propone una lectura crítica del caso para reflexionar sobre los límites del derecho penal en contextos de corrupción sistémica, subrayando la necesidad de reformas institucionales que combinen eficacia con respeto a principios democráticos.
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