We should welcome Brazil’s Supreme Court decision to order former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to prison. That is, if we care about the rule of law and Brazil’s opportunity to become a democratic superpower.

After all, Lula was convicted as a leading beneficiary of the so-called “Car Wash” corruption scandal that has ensnared dozens of top Brazilian political and business figures. The former president wanted to run for president in this year’s election, but instead, he’s heading off to a term in a different government facility.