“There is a Coup Going on in Brazil and the Current Government is Illegitimate”
A Conversation with Pepe Escobar. Global Research News Hour Episode 143
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Length (59:13)
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As of 12 May, 2016, Dilma Rousseff, 36th President of Brazil has had her powers and duties suspended.
Michel Temer, her vice-President, has taken over those responsibilities while a 180 day impeachment process plays out in the Brazilian Senate.
Once registering personal approval ratings of over 70%, Rousseff popularity started to decline in early 2015 in the midst of accusations of involvement in a corruption scandal known as Operation Car Wash (Operação Lava Jato in Portuguese). This scandal involved the State-owned oil company Petrobras and a collection of construction companies which were using bribes to secure contracts at inflated rates. Elected officials were allegedly receiving kickbacks as part of this operation. Hundreds of thousands took to the streets of Brazil to make their displeasure known.
The impeachment, however, was instigated not by Car Wash, but by a finding that her use of loans from the public treasury to make the country’s budget surplus seem larger than it was constituted a “crime of responsibility.”
Rousseff, once considered the third most powerful woman on the planet, Ms. Rousseff now must wait out a process which could see her removed from office for good. Meanwhile, her replacement, Acting President Temer has already sparked controversy by appointing all white and male members to the Cabinet, and beginning ushering in health and education cuts.
Ms Rousseff has accused right wing elements within the halls of power of orchestrating a coup against her. And she is not alone.
Pepe Escobar has been outspoken throughout this drama in his belief that not only was the impeachment of Rousseff a coup, but that the entire affair benefits not just comprador elites within Brazil, but Washington’s imperialist ambitions as well. Escobar is our featured guest in this hour.
Filling out the show, Intercontinental Cry’s John Ahniwanika Schertow returns to give us a breakdown of how indigenous rights and indigenous struggles are being affected in the midst of the Brazil’s political turmoil.
LISTEN TO THE SHOW
Length (59:13)
Click to download the audio (MP3 format)
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