"The bets are that Temer will not finish his term," says senator.
Senator Vanessa Grazziotin (PCdoB-AM) assessed that the deepening economic recession, the institutional crisis, and the Lava Jato investigations make Michel Temer's (PMDB) government even more fragile than Dilma Rousseff's (PT) was; "Today, I would say that 70 to 80% of the bets are that he will not be able to finish his term." The only difference he maintains in relation to Dilma's government is that he still has parliamentary support. But this support is not solid, it's spongy, it's about to slip away because people are starting to question parliamentarians about what is happening, why Brazil is not improving," observes the parliamentarian.
Do GGN - Senator Vanessa Grazziotin (PCdoB), in an exclusive interview with GGN, assessed that the deepening economic recession, the crisis between institutions, and the Lava Jato investigations are factors that make Michel Temer's (PMDB) government even more fragile than that of Dilma Rousseff (PT), who was removed from office after a questionable impeachment process. "Today, I would say that 70 to 80% of the bets are that he will not be able to finish his term."
According to Grazziotin, the forces that "carried out the coup in Brazil" justified this measure with the promise of giving the people a "country at peace, which would quickly overcome the economic crisis." But these initial six months of the Temer government actually point to a "country completely engulfed in flames."
"The only difference he maintains in relation to Dilma's government is that he still has the support of Parliament. But this support is not solid, it's spongy, it's about to slip away because people are starting to question parliamentarians about what is happening, why Brazil is not improving."
Parallel to the frustrations in the economy is the risk that the Odebrecht plea bargains, already agreed upon with the Lava Jato task force, will directly hit the "epicenter of the Temer government," giving more substance to the creation of a perfect storm that could lead to the downfall of the PMDB politician.
According to the senator, what has maintained a minimum of stability in the government is the support Temer has from Congress and allies like the PSDB. "The PMDB needs the PSDB, so much so that FHC was advocating for an expansion of the PSDB within the government. If they jump ship, it will be a step towards the total destruction of the Temer government."
In Grazziotin's view, the issue is that part of the PSDB party already fears that Temer will not be able to deliver all the unpopular reforms they expect from him. "If the government also fails to recover the economy, it's normal for allies to backtrack. That's what we're starting to see."
"The PSDB supported Temer's rise to the Presidency so that he could implement unpopular measures, play dirty, to clear the field for them. But he's not managing to do that, Temer isn't managing to clear the field. He's sinking. And I believe there's a fear that the PSDB will sink along with him. They are reassessing the game. It means preparing a coup within a coup. Anticipating what they had planned for 2018."
According to the senator, the Lava Jato operation's advance against Congress, which is Temer's main pillar, is a major risk factor not only for the current government but also for democracy. "However bad it may be, Parliament is essential for the democratic process. If you take it away, you'll be left with a state of exception. We are on the verge of returning to periods of repression," she argued.
According to her, the solution to the crisis arising from Temer's eventual departure would be a pact for direct elections, something that should have happened after Dilma's impeachment, she opined. "Indirect elections? No way!"