Graduates from the University of Babble-on?
The PT has apparently pulled out all the stops in its efforts to stymie the Temer administration and characterize Dilma’s impeachment as a “coup d’état”.
Dilma flits around from place to place with her “I-am-a-victim” discourse that is increasingly incoherent and flat wrong.
She has recently claimed that the unemployment of 11 million Brazilians is because of the impeachment proceedings. She has claimed that the economic team of interim President Michel Temer has purposely overestimated the 2016 deficit that was announced recently as R$170.5 billion. She further claims that the administration seeks to undo the “reforms” of the PT’s 13-year reign. It’s sheer nonsense.
For its part, the PT is calling upon its “social networks” to take to the streets to demand the removal of Michel Temer. One group recently camped out close to Temer’s residence and the encampment was broken up last night by the police with water cannons and tear gas.
Having previously opposed Lava-Jato’s investigations the PT is now supporting them to incriminate members of the Temer economic team. Planning Minister Romero Jucá appears to be the first target.
Michel Temer and Senate President Renan Calheiros (subject of 12 Lava-Jato investigations) are also on the PT’s “hit list”. The party is also courting Waldir Maranhão, the substitute of Eduardo Cunha, suspended President of the Lower Chamber. (A cab driver recently described Maranhão to me as looking "like the accordion player in a cheap cabaret in Brazil’s Northeast hinterland”!).
The PT’s tactics are about as dirty as politics gets. It has tried to present the Temer administration as populated by individuals of low (or no) character and “even more corrupt” than the PT. Since the current group in power were the victors in a War of Kleptocrats, that should not come as a surprise.
However, the fact that Lava-Jato has remained above political issues, both the PT and its “targets” are being treated equally makes a mockery of the character issue. After all, a kleptocrat is a kleptocrat and regardless of his/her political power should be held to account.
Moreover, in an attempt to gain support in the legislature, Temer assembled his team on the basis of political party recommendations. (That’s one reason given for the predominance of white males on the team.)
Temer has shown himself to be conciliatory and has explained his choices, but not been able to defuse PT protests for the time being. However, if he mercilessly reveals the results of his audits of government accounts, especially under Dilma, and Lula’s role in formulating economic policy, the PT might shut up for a while (or become increasingly insane in its defense of the indefensible). He might have to hang a bit tougher going forward. (I neglected to mention in my post on crisis management that one other requirement is that the crisis management team have one and only one spokesperson to the market and stakeholders to avoid confusing the public. My vote goes to Meirelles who is not under investigation, was Central Bank president under Lula and recoommended by hm to Dilma. That should shut up both Lula and Dilma!)
The “A word” (austerity) is currently spelled “r-e-a-l-i-t-y” in Brazil. Many analysts actually believe that the R$170.5 deficit number is understated to grease the skids in the legislature. It could well be merely an opening gambit to start Brazil on a path to recovery.
The PT might want to be a bit more cautious against the possibility that Temer could have some additional cards up his sleeve. There are still lot of skeletons in the PT closet!
As the saying goes, “It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt!” (The saying has a long list of attributions dating back to early China so who said it first is up for grabs. It’s accuracy attests to its fundamental truth over the ages.) The PT might be missing an excellent opportunity to shut up!
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