Sobreviviendo a reformas, impopularidad y casos de corrupción: el presidencialismo de coalición del Brasil de Temer

Abstract

The year 2017 demonstrated the capacity the Brazilian president to approve his governmental agenda and secure solid, majority support in the National Congress. Despite the unfavorable economic and social situation, as well as very low popular support, Temer approved a deep labor reform and rejected denunciations of corruption in the legislative branch. Through the distribution of important ministries to allied parties and the formation of an ideologically homogeneous partisan coalition, President Temer demonstrated the governability of Brazilian coalition presidentialism. Recent policy changes, including to foreign policy, have exemplified the president’s dominance in Brazilian politics, especially the ability to mobilize the resources of the office in the delicate task of organizing a coalition in a context of high party fragmentation. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/s0718-090x2018000200181