Majority Party In Congress Abandons Rousseff's Government

03/29/2016 - 10h51

The PMDB (the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party), whose members include Vice President Michel Temer, will officially announce this Tuesday (29) the severing of all ties with Dilma Rousseff's left-wing government.

The decision, met with great enthusiasm, is expected to result in some 600 politicians standing down from their roles in government.

The first of the seven ministers to leave government was the minister for Tourism, Henrique Eduardo Alves. The MP, a member of the PMDB for 46 years with strong links to Temer, sent a letter to Rousseff this Monday (28) announcing his resignation.

Since the PMDB is the party in congress with the largest majority (69 congressmen and 18 senators), this move is not to be taken lightly. Indeed, many believe it will be a determining factor in the deterioration of the PT's government, in the run up to the vote on impeachment.

Other parties could follow suit. In an attempt to prevent hundreds of MPs jumping-ship, the President met with PMDB ministers, promising a redistribution of available roles for more loyal members.

In the lower house, a new petition for impeachment issued by the OAB (Brazilian Bar Association) wreaked havoc among both pro- and anti-government camps.

As well as highlighting financial misdemeanours, the OAB are also accusing the President of extremely irresponsible behaviour.

Translated by GILLIAN SOPHIE HARRIS

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	Evaristo Sá/AFP
	Dilma Rousseff rides her bicycle while escorted by her security detail in the area of the Alvorada Palace in Brasilia