which was created by criminal borrowing by the neocon government, 20 to 12 years ago (and only keeps growing).
Was the irresponsible handling of debt somehow due to the actions of the banks?
Neocon governments, austerity and privatization are things that the banks love and push for. In the elections last year they swore to remove Dilma after she tried to lower the prime rate. They fully supported the candidate of that same neocon party, and almost got him elected in spite of him being despised even by his own party.
That borrowing came together with austerity measures (= taking more from the people, giving them less) and radical privatization (= giving people's property to banks for a pittance).
That happened after the debt got out of control.
The humongous debt was created by that same government, at the same time with the austerity measures and privatization.