Legitimacy of Impeachment in Brazil Divides Foreign Governments

09/01/2016 - 11h21

The impeachment process that led to the removal of Dilma Rousseff from office on Wednesday, August 31, increased an expected division among the continent's governments.

While the U.S. said that the definite ousting of the now-former president of Brazil followed constitutional proceedings, the so-called Bolivarian governments – Venezuela, Ecuador and Bolivia – reacted by calling their ambassadors back.

Venezuela's answer followed suit. In a statement, Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Venezuela's attitude "is conspicuously against the principles and objectives of the Latin American integration." The Brazilian ambassador in Caracas, Ruy Pereira, was called for consultations.

Folha verified that Brazil's chancellery would take the same measures regarding Quito and La Paz.

Washington praised the solid Brazilian institutions and reinforced the respect for democratic rules. "As the two biggest democracies in the hemisphere, Brazil and the United States are committed partners. The U.S. will cooperate with Brazil to take on themes of mutual interest as well as the pressing challenges of the century."

Similarly, the Argentine government published a statement in which it said that it respects the impeachment process and will continue to work for integration with its "sibling country," respecting human rights, democratic institutions and international laws, as well as the effort to strengthen Mercosur.

Since the beginning of the process, Argentine President Mauricio Macri showed he was in favor of the Temer administration. In May, Argentina was the first country to receive José Serra as Brazil's Minister of Foreign Affairs. Temer is likely to visit Argentina at the beginning of October.

The Chilean government said that it has "respect" for the Brazilian senate's decision.

After the impeachment of Rousseff was approved, Rafael Correa, the President of Ecuador, said that he would call his ambassador in Brazil back and said that the process was an "apology for treason."

Later, the government of Nicolás Maduro repeated the statement and also brought the relations between Caracas and Brasília to a standstill and called the process a "parliamentary coup."

Translated by THOMAS MUELLO

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