Let the people point the way out.
"The only possible democratic solution involves Temer's departure and Dilma's return. But after that, it will be necessary to consult the population about general elections – and not just for president of the Republic," argues journalist Leonardo Attuch, editor of 247; while Michel Temer "will do nothing to make the coup cease to be a coup – which would forever stain the country's history," "President Dilma Rousseff, in turn, although she has a legitimate mandate to fulfill until December 31, 2018, is fully aware that, today, she does not have the conditions to govern with the current Congress," states Attuch, highlighting the importance of the plebiscite.
By all indications, Brazil will have new presidential elections, and perhaps general elections, sometime in 2016. What collapsed after Lava Jato was not just the Workers' Party regime, but an entire political system built on corporate campaign financing.
What the most recent testimonies have demonstrated is that there is no viable political force, from an electoral standpoint, that has not been tainted by the promiscuity between private money and the public agenda.
What becomes clear with each new audio recording and new accusation is that Michel Temer's interim government has an expiration date. Aware of his absolute unpopularity, he has taken refuge in the palaces, ordered the police to surround his house in São Paulo, and hasn't set foot in the streets. Maintaining a government under these conditions, pardon the pun, is reckless in a country that, within a few weeks, will be the world's showcase with the Rio 2016 Olympics.
Therefore, it is urgent to restore full democracy to the Brazilian people – which necessarily involves the annulment of the 2016 parliamentary coup, which has already passed through the stages of April 17th in the Chamber of Deputies and May 12th in the Senate, but has not yet overcome its final hurdle, expected in mid-August.
Temer has increased the fiscal deficit to R$170 billion, has an entire government to bargain for senators' votes, but will be incapable of prosecuting President Dilma for a crime of responsibility. In other words: nothing will make the coup cease to be a coup – which would forever stain the country's history. Perhaps even more so than the 1964 coup, because this time it was carried out without the explicit use of force.
President Dilma Rousseff, for her part, although she has a legitimate mandate to fulfill until December 31, 2018, is fully aware that, today, she does not have the conditions to govern with the current Congress. Therefore, the wisest course of action will be to transfer to the Brazilian population not only the right to choose, but also the duty to point out solutions to the current impasse through a plebiscite. Democracy depends on her return, but she will have to exercise detachment. If, in the plebiscite, the population decides in favor of her remaining in office, so be it.
This popular consultation, which began to be organized by Senator Roberto Requião (PMDB-PR), already has the support of 30 senators – more than the 27 needed to block impeachment in the Senate. If the decision confirms the thesis of new elections, ideally it should involve not only the presidency of the Republic, but also all positions in the Chamber and the Senate, so that the future government can dialogue with a parliament that has not been hijacked by the logic of money. After all, it would be pointless to have a new government subjected to the model of extortion of the Executive by the Legislative branch.
* This is an opinion article, the responsibility of the author, and does not reflect the opinion of Brasil 247.