MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Temer anticipates support of constitutional reform, and would step down in 2018

Many political analysts believe these are messages to attract the support of the PSDB, the main opposition party under the leadership of Aecio Neves

Vice-president Michel Temer patiently preparing a coalition and a basic program if Dilma Rousseff is finally impeached said he will not be standing as a candidate for Presidency in 2018. Furthermore, he said he will support the proposal to end presidential re-election in Brazil.

 Many are saying that the objective behind these actions is to attract the support of the PSDB (the Brazilian Social Democracy Party). It is believed that Temer made his statements in a thinly-veiled attempt to mollify the various branches of the largest opposition party in Brazil.

Temer, who will assume the role of President temporarily if Dilma Rousseff is forced to stand down sometime in the next two weeks by the federal Senate, is a member for rival party PMDB (the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party).

The PSDB, the party of the governor of Sao Paulo, Geraldo Alckmin, is still showing resistance in accepting roles in a future PMDB government. In order to convince it, Temer is considering handing the roles of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to José Serra (SP) and of Secretary of Human Rights to federal congressman Mara Gabrilli (SP).

According to Temer, the end of presidential re-election in Brazil will allow the PMDB more liberty in making drastic changes to government policy, such as structural overhaul and welfare and workers' reforms.

Temer also confirmed his belief that he would be able to gain the support of National Congress to approve measures the current government has so far been unable to pass. According to him, it is his priority to “get the economy up and running” in order to make jobs for future generations.