Summary of the article:

Despite similar behaviors by the two former presidents, the political repercussions have been significantly different due to the contrasting political and governing structures of the two countries. While Trump faces multiple federal and state charges, he remains a key figure in American politics, with strong potential for a future presidential nomination.

In contrast, Bolsonaro’s fall from grace has been swift and severe. Following accusations of making unfounded claims about the integrity of Brazil’s voting systems on state television, Bolsonaro faces several criminal investigations. Moreover, Brazil’s electoral court has ruled to bar him from political office for the remainder of the decade.

This discrepancy illustrates the different approaches to political misconduct in the two countries. While the US system leaves the fate of the accused to voters and the slow-paced justice system, Brazilian courts have been proactive, quickly and aggressively dealing with perceived threats to their young democracy.

The author also discusses the centralization of Brazil’s electoral system and the associated pros and cons. The system has helped to keep some corrupt politicians from power but is also seen as overly restrictive, with a centralized electoral court holding significant power over political eligibility. Furthermore, it has also been subject to criticism for overreach, with aggressive measures against anti-democratic misinformation or plotting sometimes perceived as violating freedom of speech and other democratic norms.

Despite some challenges, the author concludes with a quote from Omar Encarnación, a professor at Bard College, suggesting that Brazil’s democratic system can offer lessons on combating new anti-democratic threats, highlighting the need to “upgrade the hardware” of democratic institutions in the face of emerging challenges.