The writing on the wall?
The Brazilian Democratic Movement Party, or PMDB, ends its coalition with the PT:
Brazil’s Largest Party Leaves Ruling Coalition. Split hurts President Dilma Rousseff’s chances of derailing impeachment proceedings
Leaders of the centrist Brazilian Democratic Movement Party, or PMDB, voted unanimously to terminate the coalition. For years, Ms. Rousseff had rewarded PMDB members with cabinet posts and given the party substantial power to shape policy, but the coalition ended on a bitter note amid mutual accusations of betrayal and blame forBrazil’s economic woes.
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The PMDB’s defection also could influence smaller parties in the ruling coalition to jump ship or risk being left out of power if Ms. Rousseff’s administration collapses. Another coalition ally, the Progressive Party, said it would meet Wednesday to decide whether to remain with the government.
Impeachmeant does not necessarily mean removal,
An impeachment vote in the lower house could come as soon as mid-April. If at least two-thirds—or 342—of the nation’s 513 federal deputies vote in favor of impeachment, the process would move to Brazil’s senate, which would decide whether to hold a trial that could result in Ms. Rousseff’s removal from office.
In the event of a senate trial, the president would be obliged to step down temporarily from her post, leaving Mr. Temer to assume the nation’s highest office. If the senate votes to oust Ms. Rousseff, Mr. Temer would serve out the remainder of her second term as president, which runs through the end of 2018.
