ADVERTISING

Latest Photo Galleries

Signs of Tension Signs of Tension

Published on 04/11/2016

Rio: a City in Metamorphosis Rio: a City in Metamorphosis

Published on 11/19/2015

Brazilian Markets

17h39

Bovespa

+0,65% 127.691

16h43

Gold

0,00% 117

17h00

Dollar

-0,06% 4,9798

16h30

Euro

+0,49% 2,65250

ADVERTISING

Analysis: Government Admits Losing Control

08/06/2015 - 10h08

Advertising

IGOR GIELOW
BRASÍLIA BRANCH DIRECTOR

Although the Presidential Palace has remained unusually aloof, three of the main political actors of Dilma Rousseff's government admitted the obvius on Wednesday (5): the crisis is serious and is uncontrollable at the moment.

The most eloquent was the vice-president, Michel Temer (Brazilian Democratic Movement Party, PMDB-SP), who has been designated since the beginning of the year as political coordinator. In a rarely seen tone of nervousness, he called for national unity and admitted the seriousness of the political and economic situation.

The message was aimed primarily, but was not limited to, Congress, which is currently in rebellion. The maintenance of voting on a "deadly agenda" on Tuesday (4), after leaders agreed that it should be postponed, is a clear indication of the mood in Brasilia.

The vice president also projected himself as someone with the "ability to reconcile all", which, in a context where the position of his superior is threatened by impeachment requests as well as extremely low approval rates, may be subject to various speculations.

Temer had already met with Joaquim Levy (Finance minister), chief spokesman of appeals from Congress. The Minister also spoke out saying he did not want a "rupture" in Congress and pointed out the seriousness of the crisis.

Finally, an unlikely Aloizio Mercadante (Chief of Staff of the Presidency) spoke of "supra-partisan agreements" to overcome at least the economic crisis -as if it were dissociated from politics. In any case, his point completes the puzzle that shows that the government, or at least part of it, seems to have panicked.

What comes around does not help politicians. The speaker of the lower House of Congress, Eduardo Cunha (Brazilian Democratic Movement Pary, PMDB-RJ), aims his revenge at what he considers a governmental witch hunt. For each statement defending the responsibility of decisions, there is one criticism to the government, as will be seen on Wednesday's (5) evening vote.

On Thursday (6), Dilma and her predecessor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, will appear on a Workers' Party TV show and the party has not shown any signs that it might change this.

It is likely to attract anti-government protests which will be the appetizer for demonstrations on August 16 to demand the impeachment of the Dilma Rousseff government.

This is happening at a time when even Cunha is making up room for a possible examination of the 2014 accounts and any requests for impeachment, in a tactical agreement with the opposition.

The ball is in his court and he is also under pressure by the expected complaint he will suffer by the Attorney General on charges of taking money in the Petrobras scandal, so Cunha will dictate the "timing" of the whole process.

Finally, the Operation Car Wash (Lava Jato) keeps its fast pace. The fear of what new whistleblower awards could compromise the Workers' Party and the government has only grown, beyond the symbolic impact of the arrest of former minister José Dirceu.

While the Workers' Party believes it can bounce in these tsunami streets, with acts scheduled on the 20th, the main actors of government give signs that they have understood the nature of the problem.

Translated by CRISTIANE COSTA LIMA

Read the article in the original language

You have been successfully subscribed. Thanks!

Close

Are you interested in news from Brazil?

Subscribe to our English language newsletter, delivered to your inbox every working day, and keep up-to-date with the most important news from Brazil.

Cancel