BRAZIL – TEMER LANGUISHING, LULA AND HIS OLD COMPANIONS CALLING FOR DIRECT ELECTIONS

Michel Temer continues to languish gradually in the chair of power.

The increasingly violent demonstrations and the rise of extremism in Brazilian society, which have forced and summoned the armed forces, are just a few more warnings to the power instituted. Even if Temer remains in the presidency until the end of his term, he has lost all strength or credibility. He seems to be unable to carry out the reforms proposed by his government.

A number of accusations have spread among all levels of power - legislative, executive and judicial. Now Temer may have to respond in writing to a testimony hold by the Federal Police, about the audio that leaked from a conversation between him and Joesley Batista which put the country in even greater agony. The defense claims that now is not the time to inquiries, because this audio has not  been examined yet, therefore the best that Michel Temer has to do is remaining silent.

To complete the picture, the Supreme Electoral Court ruling on the Dilma / Temer case will be resumed on June 6 - possible cassation for alleged illegal funding in the 2014 presidential campaign.

We have already figured out Temer is resilient trying to save his mandate. Thus, he seeks reforms advance at all costs. Despite the reforms being central, Temer is politically destroyed.

As for Lula Inácio da Silva, he increasingly seeks confrontation and victimization politics, in addition to trying to gather around him his party, unions, and all movements linked to the Brazilian left wing. His defense has also been very active, trying to discredit Sergio Moro (Judge of the operation “Lava Jato”) and obstructing his investigation even proposing his compulsory departure.

Movements, unions and left-wing parties are in the hustle and bustle, promoting direct elections, most likely to bring Lula back to the presidency, and thus return to the same kind of political practices that eventually led to one of the most serious crises in Brazil

One of the most beautiful and charismatic periods in Brazil was the so-called "Diretas Já", in 1984. At that time, the Workers' Party (WP) did not support the direct voting campaign, as it contradicted the interests of then-candidate Lula. Today, the WP is campaigning for direct elections, after having already been against the 1988 Constitution, the Real Plan and the Fiscal Responsibility Law (2000). All these prerogatives represented social, political and economic advances.

Aren’t we watching a left wing struggle in favor of its party interests and to protect Lula from prison, rather than actually supporting the development of Brazilian society?

Miguel Verde - Senior Consultant, Professor of International Relations