Brazil pensions: Lack-of-business, as usual

In February, the Brazilian government sent the army into the violent and bankrupt city of Rio de Janeiro. 

That decision put paid to the desperately needed and desperately unpopular pension reform because the country’s constitution does not allow for constitutional amendments when federal armed forces are being deployed.

Conspiracy theorists immediately suggested that the army was moved in on the day (February 19) that had been set as the deadline for the pensions vote to mask the government’s failure to muster support.