FHC in place of Meirelles

The Temer government lacks an economic plan. No country grows by cutting public spending. Something more is needed.

After seven months of living together, the PSDB has already realized that it has embarked on a sinking ship. It's pointless to control important ministries without participating in the most important one, the Ministry of Finance.

There's no point in allying oneself with a government that's rapidly heading towards failure.

With Imbassahy replacing Geddel, the PSDB (Brazilian Social Democracy Party) would have a foothold in the door of the Presidential Palace.

Only the first one.

Because the second priority will be managing the economy. And if Temer doesn't let go of Meirelles, the alliance with the PSDB is at risk.

The centrist bloc is up in arms because it knows that the increased influence of the PSDB will weaken it, since its representatives are allied with the PMDB and not the PSDB.

If the PSDB (Brazilian Social Democracy Party) turns Temer into the Queen of England, the lower ranks of the political establishment have everything to lose. They will wither and return to the ostracism from which they should never have emerged. And they only emerged to overthrow a president who was hindering their plans.

It's becoming clear that Meirelles not only lacks a plan to get the country growing again, but he doesn't look like someone who can do it.

The economy also benefits if the person representing it conveys energy, confidence, and optimism, which doesn't match the current minister's gloomy expression at all. He inspires neither confidence, nor enthusiasm, nor joy. He has absolutely no charm.

These qualities are part of FHC's profile. Even though he was an economist (and perhaps precisely because of that), he was the Finance Minister who, in Itamar's government, brought down the obscene inflation of the Sarney government, after nine years of failures by other ministers.

His achievement is not due to his knowledge of economics, but rather to his ability to bring together the right economists at the right time and to have the courage to make the right bet.

Before speculating on whether or not he could be Temer's successor should the latter fall next year – which is unlikely, since even if the TSE (Superior Electoral Court) annuls the Dilma-Temer ticket, numerous appeals are possible before the annulment is finalized, which will take much longer than his remaining term – the possibility of him once again assuming the Ministry of Finance should be considered.

The government would be divided in two: FHC in the economic sphere and Temer in the political sphere.

Meirelles has already given all he had to give.