Since coming to power in 2003, the Brazilian Workers’ Party (PT) governments of Lula da Silva and Dilma Rousseff have made massive social gains, reducing unemployment and poverty by half and more than tripling education and health spending. But things of late have not been good.
The economy is faltering and inflation is on the rise. Leading members of the PT have been implicated in the Lava Jato scandal involving the country's state oil company, Petrobras.
In March, the right-wing and upper classes led big marches against the Dilma government.
Now it appears that more conservative sectors of Rousseff's ruling coalition are breaking off and joining forces with the right-wing Social Democracy Party, PSDB.
Among them is the conservative head of the lower house Eduardo Cunha, who is considering moving forward with impeachment proceedings. And another anti-Dilma march has been called for Aug. 16.
Analysis: What’s Behind this Crisis?
teleSUR’s Gustavo Fuchs writes:
As Brazil, the largest country in Latin America, suffers a contracting economy, its president, Dilma Rousseff, faces record-low approval ratings, which in turn have been fueled by a continuous campaign to link her and top members of the governing Workers’ Party (PT) to a massive fraud scheme in the state-owned oil giant Petrobras.
The scandal, which broke even before last year's elections, has become an ongoing theme in Brazil’s mainstream media and is even being used by media giant Grupo Globo to openly call for Dilma's impeachment, a call backed by prominent opposition lawmakers.
But it is not only Dilma who the right-wing opposition has in its sights. Former president and PT leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva recently sued four journalists and the editor at Veja magazine for publishing a front page special linking him to the Petrobras scandal. Lula led Brazil's economic boom from 2003 to 2010 and is still widely popular among the population.
The former president has been a fervent supporter of Dilma and his influence was decisive during the last presidential elections. He is also deemed likely to return as the PT’s presidential candidate at the next elections. Clearly, the right wants the scandal to damage not only the incumbent president, but her potential successor too. Read more...
The Role of the Media
Watch teleSUR’s Imaginary Lines with host Mike Fox
Or read the article covering its highlights: Mass Media Supports Conservative Ideology in Brazil: Analyst
Blog: The Brazilian Judicial-Media Show
Brazilian Media Analyst Altamiro Borges writes: August, "the month of the mad dog," began in a rage. The media arrest of the former chief-of-staff Jose Dirceu, on Monday morning, shows that this will be a period of intense political turmoil. The Brazilian Federal Court of Accounts (TCU) — the accountability office — despite being dirtier than a wooden chicken coop, is expected to rule on the 2014 accounts of the government of president Dilma Rousseff. The Superior Electoral Court (TSE) will give its verdict on campaign spending on the reelection of the PT. And the Lava-Jato operation, which brings together questionable officers of the Federal Police and the Prosecutors Office, will continue to produce its factoids. All of this orchestration helps ignite the climate for the coup marches called for August 16. Read more...
Infographic: Achievements of the PT
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In Video: Brazil’s Developing Political Crisis
Look back over a few years’ worth of discontent with, and also support for, the PT government.
Over the Past Year for the PT Government
Brazil has had a turbulent political year. Here are some of the most significant events:
Opposition protests: The Brazilian Right Wing's Undermining of Democracy
Analysis: Extremists Demand Military Coup in Brazil, as Right Wing March
Runoff elections: Runoff Elections in Brazil and Brazil Decides microsite
Dilma’s win: Dilma Rousseff: 4 More Years