The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Unpopular Temer plans another run
Win keeps standing that spares him a corruption trial.
RIO DE JANEIRO — Michel Temer, the deeply unpopular president of Brazil, signaled that he intends to seek a full termin October’s election, telling a newsmagazine in an interview published this weekend that “it would be cowardly not to be a candidate.”
Temer took offiffice in mid2016 after helping lead the impeachment of President DilmaRo us se ff ff ff ff ff ff, for whom he served as vice president. But Temer, 77, a veteran politician of the center-right, has had a tumultuous presidency, spendingmuch of the past year fending offff criminal charges of corruption and obstruction of justice.
Winning a new term would allow Temer to maintain the special legal standing a ff ff ff ff ff f forded to senior government officials, which has shielded him fromtrial. On two occasions last year, Congress voted to protect him from facing charges before the Supreme Court.
Temer hadsaidas recently as last month that he did not intend to run. But in this weekend’s interviewwith the newsmagazine Istoé, Temer said he came to believe he needed to defend his legacy.
“I’ve fifixed a country that was broken,” said Temer, whole ads the Brazilian Democratic Movement party .“I’ m proud ofwhat I’ve done and I need to showwhat’s being done. If I’m not in the fray, what’s going to happen is that all the candidates will go after me.”
In the interview, Temer argued that he hadn’t been given credit for the coun-
try’s advancements since he took offiffice in August 2016. The economy grew 1 percent last year, after shrinking almost 8 percent between 2015 and 2016.
But Temer’s agenda, which has included an overhaul of labor laws that has weakened unions, has led critics to charge that he has usurped thewill of voters who elected Ro us se ff ff ff ff ff ff, a leftist.
And the horse trading that spared him from prosecution last year also turned him into a vilifified fifigured. Brasília, the capital, is plastered with graffiffiti that says “Fora Temer,” or “Out With Temer.” Aprominent samba school depicted him as a vampire in Rio de Janeiro’s carnival last month.
In polls, Temer’s approval ratings have been mired in the single digits for many months.
Temer’s remarks are the latest development in a volatile race. The front-runner, former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, appears likely to go to jail before he can formally register his candidacy, as a result of a corruption conviction handed down last year.
Prominent allies of Temer are alsoconsidering candidacies. They include Finance Minister Henri que Meir el les and House Speaker Rodrigo Maia.