AP, Sao Paulo
Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Monday that he believes his embattled successor and protege can survive mounting pressure in Congress for her impeachment.
Silva told international journalists that President Dilma Rousseff will be able to resist even if leaders of a major ally, the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party, announce its members are leaving her governing coalition as expected Tuesday. Both Silva and Rousseff belong to the Workers Party.
Rousseff recently appointed Silva as her chief of staff in a much-discussed move that still must be confirmed by Brazil’s top court.
Silva said he will ask Democratic Movement’s president and the country’s vice president, Michel Temer, who is a member of Democratic Movement, to help Rousseff keep her job despite the plunge in her popularity amid Brazil’s worst recession in decades and corruption scandals.
“No one likes to support an administration that is not doing well with public opinion,” Silva said. “But we need to keep talking to” the Democratic Movement.
If Rousseff was impeached for breaking fiscal laws, Temer would assume the presidency.
Tourism Minister Henrique Alves, a member of the Democratic Movement, submitted his resignation late Tuesday. Alves, a Temer ally, said he was following the “greatest challenge” faced by his party, which is led by Temer.