Rousseff’s opponents hailed her removal as paving the way for a change of fortunes for Brazil.
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Long known as an uncharismatic backroom wheeler-dealer, Michel Temer inherits a shrinking economy, a Zika virus outbreak that has ravaged poor northeastern states and political instability fed by a sprawling corruption probe that has tarred much of the country’s political and business elite – himself included.
“We are traveling to show the world that we have political and legal stability”, he said.
Her troubles began when Brazil’s once booming economy began to crash – as a result of a fall in global commodity prices that progressively decimated the national economy throughout her tenure. Temer will serve out the remainder of her term through 2018.
In an attempt to bring calm to the streets and reassure ordinary Brazilians, Temer said: “This is a moment of hope, to rebuild trust in Brazil”.
Rousseff’s allies have vowed to appeal to the country’s highest court.
Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro greets President Dilma Rousseff in 2013.
“Putschist is you”, he said, referring to Rousseff’s accusation that he had led the charge to oust her. However, this is a step in the right direction for those of who believe that corruption (i.e. crony capitalism) is holding back so much of this region. “I am certain I can say, ‘See you soon'”.
Affiliated with Workers’ Party since 2001, she was the minister of energy during the first term of Lula da Silva as of January 2003, and in June 2005 she assumed the post of chief of staff after the former chief of staff resigned. Earlier in the day, Ecuador also withdrew its ambassador from Brazil. Cuba’s Communist government branded Rousseff’s ouster part of an “imperialist” offensive against progressive governments in Latin America.
The U.S. State Department voiced confidence that strong bilateral relations with Brazil would continue, adding the country’s democratic institutions had acted within the constitutional framework.
In a separate voting session, the senators agreed not to stop Rouseff from running for public office fro the next eight years. Her 14-hour speech in her defense has had little influence: the impeachment took place, Rousseff is no longer President of Brazil.
As Temer took over, he said the impeachment ushered in a “new era”. On the flip side, 62 percent said they wanted new elections to resolve the crisis.
Motorists honked auto horns in the Brazilian capital to mark the removal of a president whose popularity had dwindled to single figures since winning re-election in 2014.
Late Wednesday night, a group of unhappy Rousseff supporters smashed windows of bank branches, other businesses and a police SUV in the city of Sao Paulo.
Temer has vowed to boost an economy that has shrunk for six consecutive quarters and implement austerity measures to plug a record budget deficit, which cost Brazil its investment-grade credit rating previous year.
Whether Temer can convince Brazilians that he is worth a real shot is unclear.
Temer said he had tasked his Cabinet with pushing forward budget and pension reforms as well as proposals to create jobs. “The honeymoon is over, and the market wants to know now how capable he is to govern and put the government accounts in order”.
Temer’s government risks entanglement in the ongoing investigation into kickbacks at Petrobras, which ensnared dozens of politicians in Rousseff’s coalition. Three of Temer’s ministers have already had to step down due to links to the scandal, which could hobble efforts to restore confidence.
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Rousseff’s impeachment violated the Brazilian constitution and the will of the Brazilian people, the statement stressed, expressing Venezuela’s solidarity with Rousseff.
