“Tchau, querida” (literally translated to, “Goodbye, dear”) is currently the most spoken phrase among Brazilians. Those two, sweet words of farewell, however, have take an incredible derogatory twist. Amidst protesting against a corrupt government, Brazilians have forgotten that the one they are villainizing, is human. After made public a phone conversation between the temporarily suspended president, Dilma Rousseff, and ex-president Luíz Inácio “Lula” da Silva, the phrase spread like an epidemic among the population. During their phone call, Rousseff informs Lula he is being sent exclusive help to be used if needed. Lula ends the phone call warmly with his, “Tchau, querida.” After her impeachment was approved by the house with 367 votes in favor, 137 against, 7 abstentions, and 2 absences, “Tchau, querida” became a political slogan. Those against Dilma’s government and in favor of her impeachment demonized an affectionate word.
This week, a post written by a young, Brazilian Woman, Natalia Alves, went viral. Natalia commented on the misusage of the word reaching over 75,000 likes and 16,800 shares.
“Goodbye, my dear
One of these days I read an article by a renowned [female] writer on the frequent pejorative use of a word as sweet as “dea” and how negative it is to no longer be able to use this word without sounding annoyed or scornful because, you can bet, if one is to use a term such as “dear” they are either impatient or treating the other rudely. […] More than political opponent, Dilma is a woman. And, as women, she has been attack like all of us when we bother someone: “that b*tch,” “cow,” “wh*re,” “unloved,” “what she needs is a d*ck,” “her torture was not enough,” (Dilma is known to have been tortured by the government when imprisoned during Brazil’s military dictatorship from the 1960s to the 1980s.) and other barbarities. Using her image, a bumper sticker was created in which her legs were spread open, an indication of rape […] She has lost weight and bags under her eyes weigh her face. Dilma is 70 years old, she could be my grandmother. Or yours. Can you imagine anyone treating your grandmother like this? It seems sickening and bizarre, which, in fact, is. Your reasons for hating her do not matter […] you say you hate every thief, but I haven’t seen anyone calling Cunha (President of the lower house of Congress, forced to step down.) of being evil, vagrant, debauchery or an evil character. In fact, as a form of attacking Cunha, it was rather common to use the image of his wife to ridicule him. All was done against the image and reputation of Dilma. Taunted, humiliated, trampled, threatened, and even a casual conversation with an old friend who called her “dear” was reason to be used against her. […] It did not take long for “Goodbye, dear” to become a catchphrase and used to humiliate her publicly. Dilma, my dear, soon you will no longer be my president, but surely get over this messes they have involved you in with dignity and strength. Politically, you made many mistakes, but none of them make you any less of the woman you are. And, as a woman, I feel your pain and amidst so much hate, I send you my love. In a caring manner, millions of women and I take it upon our lips and hearts to tell you: may God be with you, my dear. We’ll see each other around.”
Natalia was far from wrong; Rousseff was removed for up to 180 days on the 12th of May. And where does that leave Brazil? In no good hand, pardon my honesty. Caught up in a line of succession immersed in scandals, the nation sees no light in the end of the tunnel. The Presidential Succession Line, followed by Rousseff’s removal, starts with Michel Temer, Rousseff’s Vice president and Brazil’s current interim President, a man, “ordered to pay a fine for violating campaign financing limits last week.” The Line, if Temer’s government is deemed invalid, traces to Eduardo Cunha, “charged with taking as much as $40 million in bribes for himself and his allies, and has been the main orchestrator in the effort to impeach Ms. Rousseff” and forced to step down as President of the lower house of Congress. Being “one of many politicians accused of taking bribes in the graft scheme surrounding the national oil company, Petrobras,” next in line is the Interim president of the lower house of Congress Waldir Maranhão. Maranhão, within his first 24 hours as interim speaker of Brazil’s lower house announced he would be annulling the chamber’s decision to impeach the president. Facing countless accusations of favoring his own political party, PT (Partido Trabalhista), the interim president changed his mind less than 24 hours later. Last in line is Renan Calheiros, Seneta president that has been accused of taking bribes in the Petrobras scandal, “tax evasion, and of allowing a lobbyist to pay child support for a child from an extramarital affair.”
Temer, in less than a week, has already proved Brazil is in for major conservative shifts. BBC Brasil had listed four controversies that characterized the early days of Temer’s government:
- Lack of Diversity
With the possession of Temer, it is the first time since 1979, when the country was still ruled by General Ernesto Geisel [under a military dictatorship], that only men make up the presidential office.
The decision to be surrounded by only male auxiliary provoked strong criticism towards PMDB [Temer’s political party]. This also represents a paradigm shift compared to the government of Dilma, who, besides being the first female president of the country, named 15 ministers over her two terms.
Asked about the absence of women, the new minister of the Civil House, Eliseu Padilha, said “[we] tried in various ways, the part that concerned the availability in various functions, we tried to find women.”
“But for reasons that are beside the point, this was not possible,” he added in an interview with reporters last Friday.
Being criticized by the lack of diversity is not restricted to the complete absence of women on the Esplanade. All ministers are white men.
[…]
- Controversial Nominations
On the first day as acting president, Temer appointed politicians under suspicion [of corruption] for key positions in management.
Of the 23 ministers chosen by PMDB, at least five had their names linked to Operation “Lava Jeto” investigating the corruption scheme in Petrobras. All deny the charges – and the vast majority of them are not officially investigated.
The only one who has had an investigation opening accepted by the Supreme Court is the holder of Planning, Romero Juca (PMDB-RR). He is accused of receiving bribes in the works of Petrobras and Eletronuclear.
Henrique Eduardo Alves (PMDB-RN), Tourism, was quoted by Leo Pinheiro, former president of the OAS, as the recipient scheme. He is the subject of two requests for investigation made by the Attorney General of the Republic, Rodrigo Janot. Both have not yet obtained approval of the Supreme Court to proceed.
The Interior Minister Geddel Vieira Lima (PMDB-BA), was connected to the Lava jet for the same OAS. Former vice president of Caixa, he was quoted in messages about the release of funds from the bank to the contractor.
From PMDB, Eliseu Padilha (Casa Civil) and Moreira Franco (Secretary of the Growing Program, partnerships and investments), were also mentioned by informants.
[…]
- Increase in Taxes
In his first interview as Minister of Finance, the former president of the Central Bank Henrique Meirelles spoke about the need to increase taxes.
He said the new government should announce “tough” measures to reverse the upward trend of public debt, which considered “unsustainable.”
“Congress reflects society, and society is ripe for significant adjustment measures. What is not possible is to continue as it is,” he said on Friday.
[…]
The goal, he said, is to balance the public debt.
- Exclusion of Ministries
To answer the criticism that there was an excess of ministries in Brazil, the interim president has reduced the number from 32 to 23 folders.
The [economical changes] caused by this measure, however, will be symbolic. This is because public officials and institutions linked to the extinct ministries will be placed under the umbrella of the folders that were maintained, some of them now with “superpowers.”
[…]
Social movements also were not pleased to see the Women folder, Racial Equality and Human Rights be added to Justice and Citizenship.
There was also criticism of experts at the end of the CGU (Controladoria-Geral da União), responsible body, among other things, for overseeing the federal government. They see risks to independence and possible threats to the fight against corruption in the country.
Brazil, however, fails to see yet another uprising of the masses. Slight decreases on the dollar and slight increases on Brazil’s economical, worldwide position blind the population, creating false hope for improvement. While still caught up in corruption scandals, Brazilian politics fail to give the population what they want: a clean beginning.
We might have not seen the last of Rousseff. While she has been removed for up to 180 days and Michel Temer is Brazil’s interim president, now “begins the second phase of [her] constitutional deposition process in the Senate.” The process begins with minister Ricardo Lewandowski, president of the Federal Supreme Court (STF), assuming the coordination of work in the Senate. The beginning of Instruction of the Special Committee of Impeachment of the Senate will guarantee Rousseff the right to legal defense and to the contradictory. After judgment, the voting of the pronunciation by the Senate Plenary will take place. If approved, the referral of the the case file to Ricardo Lewandowski will sets the date of judgment and orders the president away. Lastly, the final judgment of Rousseff’s impeachment will require at least 54 of the 81 senators approve the request for impeachment.
Brazil has not seen the last of Rousseff, PT, and corruption, but Temer’s early policies and conservative alterations have abided with Brazil’s corruption scandal and controversial politics, proving to be far from what the nation needs in order to please its population’s demands of a corruption-free nation. While with an utopian mindset, the Brazilian population cannot be blamed for dreaming.
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