"At least 14 Brazilian politicians —including Governor Romeu Zema, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro and Congressman Nikolas Ferreira— have visited El Salvador since 2023 to learn about President Nayib Bukele’s security policies. The "pilgrimage" cost at least R$ 407,200 ($74,000) in public funds. Although Brazilian [far-right] visitors praise the facility as a "success story," Cecot is considered inferior to Brazil’s maximum-security prisons. Beyond mass incarceration, Bukele’s approach also includes control over the legislative and judicial branches. Politicians defend the spending on the trips, arguing that the results in reducing crime justify the costs and the methods employed." #prison #Brazil #farright #Bukele #FlavioBolsonaro #politics https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/internacional/en/brazil/2026/01/brazils-right-sees-el-salvador-as-an-inspiration-politicians-pilgrimage-cost-at-least-74000.shtml