Allies Increase Pressure for Changes in the Government

07/20/2015 - 10h04

The rupture of the Speaker of Brazil's lower house of Congress, Eduardo Cunha (PMDB-RJ), with the government increased the allies' pressure on President Dilma Rousseff to make changes in the core of her political articulation.

The main target is Minister Mercadante (Civil House), whose departure has been defended either by the PMDB and by former President Lula da Silva in private conversations.

One of the options advocated by pro-government supporters would be to hand over his charge to Minister Jaques Wagner, who nowadays leads the Defense cabinet, a ministry Mercadante would then assume.

In the allies' words, the exchange would "oxygenate" the government higher spheres and open a new channel for dialogue with representatives and senators. However, Dilma has shown resistance to it.

On Monday (20), the president leads an enlarged meeting among her political coordination, the ministers from the so-called Planalto's (Presidential Palace) "kitchen" and the leaders of allied base parties. One of the topics will be the worsening institutional crisis.

In the view of the coordination members, playing musical chairs in the core of the government would be essential to try to quell the turmoil atmosphere aggravated by the fact that Cunha has ceased to be a nuisance ally to become a declared opponent.

The change of the PMDB's mayor position was caused by allegations made by lobbyist Julio Camargo, one of Operation Car Wash (Lava Jato) whistleblowers.

According to Camargo, he was the recipient of a US$ 5 million bribe coming from corruption at Petrobras. In Cunha's view, Planalto is pressuring on the prosecutor to implicate him in this case.

Although he is not directly responsible for government political coordination -Vice President Michel Temer (PMDB) is in charge of that– Mercadante is being pointed, behind the scenes, as responsible for disturbing the government's relations with the Congress.

Blocking the payment of funds allocated by congressmen in the federal budget for their electoral strongholds and the appointment of posts at ministries and state companies are among the complaints.

Mercadante worked against Cunha's election to the presidency of the lower house (the government supported deputy Arlindo Chinaglia, Worker's Party, PT-SP), something that increased his erosion within the PMDB.

Another demand from pro-government is that PMDB Minister Eliseu Padilha (Civil Aviation) is officially established in a "right arm" role to Michel Temer in his political articulation. Padilha denies the intention to get the function.

The government also hopes that the two-week parliamentary recess, which will end in early August, can give some breath for the Planalto to calm the moods in the Congress.

Another expectation is that, by fulfilling the promise to pay the amendments to the congressmen and appointing second-tier positions, the government will weaken Cunha, leaving him more isolated.

It is expected that the government can fulfill its promises until August, what would bring some "normality for political articulation", as described by a minister.

REMOVAL

This Sunday (19), deputy Jarbas Vasconcelos (PMDB-PE) joined the government vice-leader, Silvio Costa (PSC-PE), and PSOL representatives in defending the immediate removal of Cunha.

"How can he stay in the Presidency of the lower house accused the way he was, with everything spelled out and with all possible clarity? It's hard, immensely complicated. It does not hurt to step down temporarily", Jarbas said.

Translated by DENISE MOTA

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	Pedro Ladeira/Folhapress
	President Dilma Rousseff greets Eduardo Cunha,speaker of Brazil's lower house of Congress