Brazilian Pres Temer survives vote, avoids suspension

World Today

Brazil’s President Michel Temer looks on during a ceremony at the Planalto Presidential Palace, in Brasilia, Brazil, Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2017. President Temer faces a congressional vote on his future Wednesday, a showdown coming in a month dreaded by leaders of Latin America’s largest nation. August has seen Brazilian presidents impeached, resign and even kill themselves. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

President Michel Temer has survived an attempt to remove him from office. The Brazilian president got enough votes in Congress to block his corruption trial. This means the President stays in office, despite nationwide protests, and low approval ratings.

CGTN’s Paulo Cabral reports from Brazil.

The opposition did try to make noise in the effort unseat President Michel Temer – walking into the floor of the Chamber of Deputies carrying signs and chanting “Out with Temer.”

But as the tense session progressed, the government’s advantage- already foreseen by most analysts – became clear.

All the opposition could do was to try and slow down the session as they wanted to get the vote to happen later in the night – when more people would be at home watching on TV as lawmakers vote on a highly unpopular president.

But in the end, the government got the necessary votes to stop the Supreme Court from investigating and putting President Temer on trial for corruption. Despite the government’s record-low approval rating, there haven’t been big protests against him this on Wednesday – mostly a few road blockades organized by activist groups.

President Temer cleared another obstacle in his struggle to remain in power until the 2018 elections but he still faces other challenges. And if the political and economic crises continue unabated, the president could be in a weaker position when it’s time to face them.

Federal Prosecutor Rodrigo Janot is expected to present more of charges against President Temer what would lead to other votes like today’s, threatening his position. Analysts said this vote does not necessarily mean an end to the political crises.

“We cannot rule out the possibility that yet another scandal may emerge,” said political scientist Roseli Coelho of Sao Paulo School of Sociology and Political Science. “His situation can still get more complicated.”

President Michel Temer may have some room for breathe, but it is not clear if this will be enough for his government to focus now on what it wants to do for the country – of it will have to continue.