Opinion: Vice President Temer Is a Solution Because He Will Prevent Elections

03/28/2016 - 08h46

Odebrecht enriched national political rhetoric when one of his people referred to its money laundering department as the "Sector for Structured Transactions".

The spreadsheets where the company listed the 316 swindlers it nursed allowed for the quick creation of this other powerful and multiparty sector for structured transactions.

It has as its main objective to secure vice president Michel Temer's rise to the presidency. It is important to note that Odebrecht's sheets contain the names of all of the high ranking officials from the major parties but Temer's.

Temer represents a passage of hope. He brings together the citizens who hate the Worker's Party (PT), voters who have come to detest president Dilma Rousseff, and CEOs astonished by the paralyzed state of the country and above all, the politicians and suppliers, who are terrified by the Federal Prosecutor's decisions.

Temer is convenient more than anything else. If there is a vote in favor of Rousseff's impeachment, he assumes the position, reduces tensions, creates a department of celebrities, reaches a truce (especially in the press), brings into government people who lost the election and imposes his own tolerant style, reassuring ousted officials.

If possible, he helps maintain the public life of his coreligionists who fear the arrival of the boys from the Federal Police. Those would be the expectations.

Another element is what the impeachment path guarantees. If there is no deposition from Rousseff, there is a risk that the Rousseff-Temer pair will be hunted by the Superior Electoral Court, which would result in the convocation of a swift and direct presidential election.

That is not of interest to the oligarchy hurt by operation Lava Jato nor the top ranks of national life. It is not of interest to them because there is no candidate at hand and because the opposition group irritated by Lava Jato knows it should avoid Paulista Avenue and a popular trial.

Temer is convenient for many reasons but above all because he will prevent elections. The sector for structured transactions moves to defend that interest.

This one does not function like Odebrecht's. It doesn't have an office, leadership or a detailed agenda. It plays by ear and speaks silently. When it became necessary, it learned how to live with the PT, providing comfort. It just doesn't know how to live with Lava Jato.

No one wants to imprecate a potential Temer administration, but how about a contractor lawyer in the circles of the highest ranking Planalto officials or even in the Ministry of Justice?

Translated by SUGHEY RAMIREZ

Read the article in the original language