Allied Political Parties Await Removal of President Temer while Planning for Succession

05/24/2017 - 11h00

Political parties allied with Michel Temer's Government have come to the conclusion that the President has lost his ability to remain in office. Led by the PSDB (Brazilian Social Democracy Party), the main allied party in the governmental base, they have already quietly conveyed this conclusion to Temer, the PMDB (Brazilian Democratic Movement Party) leader.

Since he is resisting pressure to resign after the crisis unleashed by the plea-bargain testimony of JBS executives, they are counting on the pending Federal Superior Electoral Tribunal (TSE) case judging the invalidation of the 2014 Temer and Dilma Rousseff electoral ticket, which will commence on the 6th, as a solution.

	Pedro Ladeira/Folhapress
	Brazil President Temer

This result would resolve the political impasse and eliminate the need for a "confession of guilt" which is how Temer refers to the hypothesis of resignation. The parties are working under the scenario of indirect elections to take place 30 days after Temer leaves office. Direct elections would depend upon an unexpected decision by the TSE or on a constitutional amendment.

Two names lead in the political betting pool for the congressional election: former Minister Nelson Jobim (PMDB Party) and Senator Tasso Jereissati (PSDB Party).

The risk, according to sources from political leaders, is that the President of the Congress, Rodrigo Maia (PMDB Party), who would assume the Presidency one month before the indirect election and is influential among congressional colleagues, could attempt to launch his own candidacy.

Translated by LLOYD HARDER

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