Brazil’s Temer marks year in power facing low popularity, economic uncertainty

World Today

Brazil’s Temer marks year in power facing low popularity, economic uncertainty

Its’ been one year since Michel Temer assumed the presidency of Brazil – in the wake of Dilma Rousseff’s removal from office.

The former vice-president has had some economic success but remains very unpopular.

CGTN’s Paulo Cabral explains the challenges still ahead for the Brazilian President.  

One year ago, the impeachment of Dilma Rousseff brought her vice president Michel Temer to power. He was the leader of the country’s biggest political party but described more as a skilled backroom negotiator than a charismatic leader.

Temer’s administration has seen Brazil fighting its way out of recession with the economy showing some positive signs – like a drop in inflation and interest rates. But tough and unpopular measures are still ahead.

In his first year of governing, Michel Temer has managed to build a reasonably strong support base in Parliament and to some extent, rebuild the confidence of investors and financial markets in the future of the country.

Among the people, however, his administration remains deeply unpopular, with approval ratings close to those of his ousted predecessor, Dilma Rousseff.

A recent poll by the Datafolha Institute shows just nine percent of respondents approve of Temer’s job performance while 71 percent oppose his reform plans.

The president has already said he plans to leave public life after his term and not run for reelection. Temer still has about 18 months left to govern Brazil, his legacy still yet to be written.