Brazil had one of it’s most momentous and historic events happen over the course of last weekend, when former President Luis Iganacio Lula da Silvia (popularly known as “Lula”) was finally sentenced to 12 years in prison on corruption charges. Lula’s sentencing is one of a number events pertaining to the nation-wide spanning investigation known as “Lava Jato” (Operation Car-Wash), which has managed to prosecute numerous wealthy Brazilian elites and politicians from across the political spectrum. Events spanning from Operation Car-Wash soon led to Petrobras being investigated, as well as the impeachment of Lula’s successor former President Dilma Rouseff being impeached, and the scandal has so far culminated with Lula himself now in prison.

Lula and his party (P.T.) are a divisive topic in Brazilian politics. For years wealthy Brazilians and the right-backing media have tried to downplay the achievements of Lula’s presidency, which managed to elevate social-economic inequality in…