Brazilian lesson about impeachment
The Constitutional Court officially removed Park Geun-hye from power. The nation is sharply divided just as it was in Brazil after the removal of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff in 2015-16.
Three similar factors stood out in the process for presidential removal: an outrageous corruption scandal that implicated many power figures, sustained popular protests, and a well-ordered constitutional process.
Both presidents also did not acknowledge their faults right after the impeachment ruling, despite the fact that 60 percent of the people supported the impeachment in Brazil, and 86 percent of the people in Korea were in favor. Dilma called it a coup and until now still calls herself “Brazilian president-elect” on her Twitter account. Former President Park indicated that she would not accept the court ruling as she said in her statement, “Although it may take time, I believe the truth will eventually be revealed.” Their stances on their impeachment rulings encourage their hard-line supporters to keep things stirred up instead of helping the nation unite to build a better future.
The parallels of the political crisis do not stop there.
Looking into Brazil, a country that is ahead of Korea in terms of post-impeachment days, the situation has not improved. For Brazil, it’s in the worst economic shape in its history. The unemployment rate is at an all-time high of 12.6 percent, people are belt-tightening, the country is even more divided, and people are crying out for the ousting of Temer, Rouseff’s successor.
The next president of Korea already has many tasks. People are asking for economic reform to help boost sagging economic growth and the containment of the size of household debt, and create more jobs. In addition to fixing the economy, the diplomatic situation concerning the controversial issues such as THAAD is at hand.
Temer stated that Brazil’s economy would improve as many presidential hopefuls in Korea are promising, but until now, the gap between the poor and the rich seems to grow in Brazil. This problem has to be grappled with in Korea as well. Temer’s government resists calls to raise taxes on the haves (economists describe as one of the most generous tax systems for the rich among major economies) while a state legislator, Pedro Fernanades suggested the poor should take meals “every other day.”
The volatile political landscape and the weak economy still prevail in Brazil, afflicting many Brazilians with hopelessness more than ever.
In Korea, the U.S. rate hike, China’s retaliation over the deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense battery may negatively affect Korea. Can Korea survive this vulnerable state”? Protesters and media sources in Brazil say that Temer could face impeachment. Temer has been banned from running for office for a period of eight years due to electoral fraud charges. However, Rousseff was never accused of financial impropriety or personal enrichment. Korea can’t afford to have two impeached presidents in a row. Can it take a different course than Brazil’s fate?