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| Version 11 | Version 12 |
|---|---|
| What has gone wrong in Brazil? | What has gone wrong in Brazil? |
| (3 months later) | |
| Brazil's suspended President Dilma Rousseff is facing the final stage of her impeachment trial over accusations that she illegally manipulated government accounts, which she denies. | |
| Brazil's Senate is expected to vote this week on whether to impeach her and oust her from office for good or whether to re-instate her as president. | |
| Here we take a closer look at the problems in Brazil and what has gone wrong since Ms Rousseff was elected for a second term in October 2014. | Here we take a closer look at the problems in Brazil and what has gone wrong since Ms Rousseff was elected for a second term in October 2014. |
| President Rousseff under fire | President Rousseff under fire |
| Dilma Rousseff's approval ratings have plummeted since she narrowly won her second presidential election in October 2014. | Dilma Rousseff's approval ratings have plummeted since she narrowly won her second presidential election in October 2014. |
| According to a Datafolha poll (in Portuguese) released on 11 April, 63% of respondents across the country said her government was "bad or terrible", with only 13% saying it was "good or excellent". | According to a Datafolha poll (in Portuguese) released on 11 April, 63% of respondents across the country said her government was "bad or terrible", with only 13% saying it was "good or excellent". |
| Experts say this reflects voters' disillusionment with a deep recession and a corruption scandal involving the state-controlled oil company Petrobras. | Experts say this reflects voters' disillusionment with a deep recession and a corruption scandal involving the state-controlled oil company Petrobras. |
| The investigation into the corruption scandal, dubbed Operation Car Wash, has implicated important figures from Ms Rousseff's Workers' Party, but also some of her opponents. | The investigation into the corruption scandal, dubbed Operation Car Wash, has implicated important figures from Ms Rousseff's Workers' Party, but also some of her opponents. |
| Fight against impeachment | Fight against impeachment |
| The impeachment trial against Ms Rousseff is based on allegations that she manipulated the government's accounts in 2014 when she was seeking re-election. | The impeachment trial against Ms Rousseff is based on allegations that she manipulated the government's accounts in 2014 when she was seeking re-election. |
| Her opponents say what she did was illegal and warrants her impeachment. She argues it is a common practice which previous presidents also engaged in. | Her opponents say what she did was illegal and warrants her impeachment. She argues it is a common practice which previous presidents also engaged in. |
| Ms Rousseff says her opponents are trying to mount a coup against her and are using the impeachment trial to oust her and her Workers' Party from office. | Ms Rousseff says her opponents are trying to mount a coup against her and are using the impeachment trial to oust her and her Workers' Party from office. |
| Corruption | Corruption |
| Much of the public discontent is based on the high level of corruption that has tainted the highest echelons of business and politics in Brazil. | Much of the public discontent is based on the high level of corruption that has tainted the highest echelons of business and politics in Brazil. |
| Since the Workers' Party came to power in 2003, there has been a series of corruption scandals involving politicians from the governing party and also opposition parties. The two biggest are: | Since the Workers' Party came to power in 2003, there has been a series of corruption scandals involving politicians from the governing party and also opposition parties. The two biggest are: |
| Widening scandal | Widening scandal |
| Operation Car Wash has uncovered a widening corruption scandal with dozens of politicians accused of paying or receiving kickbacks. | Operation Car Wash has uncovered a widening corruption scandal with dozens of politicians accused of paying or receiving kickbacks. |
| One of the most well known politicians to have been named in connection with the investigation is former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. | One of the most well known politicians to have been named in connection with the investigation is former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. |
| Brazil's Attorney General has accused him of playing a key role in the scandal, which Lula has denied. | Brazil's Attorney General has accused him of playing a key role in the scandal, which Lula has denied. |
| But it is not just members of the Workers' Party who have been named in connection with Operation Car Wash. | But it is not just members of the Workers' Party who have been named in connection with Operation Car Wash. |
| Since Michel Temer took over as interim president, two of his ministers have resigned after leaked recordings suggested they had tried to obstruct the investigation. | Since Michel Temer took over as interim president, two of his ministers have resigned after leaked recordings suggested they had tried to obstruct the investigation. |
| Both ministers said their words were taken out of context. | Both ministers said their words were taken out of context. |
| A country divided | A country divided |
| The political crisis has deepened old political rivalries. | The political crisis has deepened old political rivalries. |
| Supporters of the Workers' Party point to the achievements the Rousseff administration and that of President Lula brought about, such as lifting millions of people out of poverty and reducing inequality. | Supporters of the Workers' Party point to the achievements the Rousseff administration and that of President Lula brought about, such as lifting millions of people out of poverty and reducing inequality. |
| They say the allegations against them are a smear campaign designed to drive Ms Rousseff from office and prevent Lula from standing for the presidency in 2018. | They say the allegations against them are a smear campaign designed to drive Ms Rousseff from office and prevent Lula from standing for the presidency in 2018. |
| They say the massive corruption investigations are a sign that under the Rousseff government, such crimes are being punished rather than swept under the carpet as in previous administrations. | They say the massive corruption investigations are a sign that under the Rousseff government, such crimes are being punished rather than swept under the carpet as in previous administrations. |
| The fact that high-ranking members of the Workers' Party have been convicted, they argue, is proof that there is no immunity. | The fact that high-ranking members of the Workers' Party have been convicted, they argue, is proof that there is no immunity. |
| Opponents of Ms Rousseff accuse her of mismanaging the economy and say her government is deeply corrupt. | Opponents of Ms Rousseff accuse her of mismanaging the economy and say her government is deeply corrupt. |
| They say they are fed up with the Workers' Party after its 13 years in power and demand a clean slate. | They say they are fed up with the Workers' Party after its 13 years in power and demand a clean slate. |
| Economy in the doldrums | Economy in the doldrums |
| Brazil's economy is going through its worst recession in more than three decades following a drop in prices for Brazilian commodities such as oil, iron ore and soya. | Brazil's economy is going through its worst recession in more than three decades following a drop in prices for Brazilian commodities such as oil, iron ore and soya. |
| In 2015, the economy shrank by 3.8%, its worst annual performance since 1981. | In 2015, the economy shrank by 3.8%, its worst annual performance since 1981. |
| Inflation reached 10.7% at the end of last year, a 12-year-high. | Inflation reached 10.7% at the end of last year, a 12-year-high. |
| Unemployment increased to 9% in 2015 and economists predict it could go into double figures in the coming months. | Unemployment increased to 9% in 2015 and economists predict it could go into double figures in the coming months. |
| The forecast for 2016 does not look any rosier with GDP expected to decline by 3.8% again and inflation expected to rise. | The forecast for 2016 does not look any rosier with GDP expected to decline by 3.8% again and inflation expected to rise. |