Generative Curses: Presidential Impeachments in Brazilian New Republic (1992-2016 (original) (raw)

Twice in the course of a generation, the Brazilian president got impeached. The 1992 impeachment, in juridical terms, was a precarious affair. The tension-stricken process was followed by the Real plan and assured the presidential election of Franco’s Economy minister Fernando Henrique Cardoso (PSDB). The young Brazilian democracy had an impeachment and lived through this. In 2016 there is only a thin semblance to the 1992 drama. The 2016 impeachment remains, in juridical terms, a precarious affair. Rousseff was ousted in May 2016. Her shrinking base brought Temer good news and sealed her fate. She recapped old promises of political reform and plebiscites, which PT promptly vetoed, leaving a reelected president left for dead. By acquiescing to Dilma’s scapegoating, PT preventively attempts to preserve Lula’s profile (under investigation in “Car Wash”) for the near future. Still, a risky move. As New Republic’s machinery gears towards municipal elections (with STF at the wheel) and public anxiety demobilizes streets, Temer put the Itamar mask on. His “interim” government features PSDB prominently (Serra is his minister of Foreign Affairs). Although no miraculous economic feat remains in sight, PMDB and PSDB got the upper hand. Will the still young Brazilian democracy have a second impeachment on such terms, and live with the outcomes?