Following the impeachment in Brazil of former president Dilma Rousseff, a communiqué from the office of minister for foreign affairs Augusto Santos Silva (pictured) has affirmed that Portugal wants to “continue deepening excellent bilateral relations” between the two countries and is therefore more than willing to work with newly appointed man-at-the-top Michel Temer.
Temer was sworn into power yesterday (Wednesday) after 61 of Brazil’s 81 senators found Dilma Rousseff guilty of “crimes of responsibility in the management of the country’s finances”, explains Jornal de Negócios.
In reality, international media has suggested that while the impeachment proceedings could certainly not be considered a ‘coup’ (as they followed strict legal guidelines), the charges did “not rise to the level of the kind of accusations that would merit impeachment”.
What outgoing President Rouseff was ‘guilty of’, explains the New York Times, was “concealing a budget deficit by borrowing from a state-owned bank”.
It may not be legal, but it is certainly “not a criminal office”.
Portugal’s Communist party thought as much and tried to force through a motion of confidence for the people of Latin America in May.
As Sábado explains, PS leaders bucked the initiative until the wording was “ severely amended”, and all references to Brazil removed.
Even so, a number of PS MPs failed to support it, and this latest move by Santos Silva is further interpreted as Portugal “rejecting Dilma’s thesis of a coup”.
Intriguingly, the impeachment decision has not stopped Dilma from being free to seek future political office – which seems more than likely.
Citing misogyny, parliamentary skullduggery and racism, Dilma has promised to appeal to “all possible instances, to revert the decision which enters into the history of great injustices”, adds Sábado – stressing that, in the meantime, Temer will not be having an easy ride.
“Brazil is immersed in the most serious recession of its recent history,” says the paper. Temer’s priority will be to limit public spending (which doubled during President Rousseff’s tenure), attract foreign investment, reduce unemployment and pave the way for a system of pensions (a move which Sábado explains could be explosive).
But when it comes to foreign investment, Santos Silva has pledged its “unique, fraternal bond” with the South American country, and hopes it brings all the usual mutual benefits.
natasha.donn@algarveresident.com
