In an editorial published by Reuters, associate professor and chair of political science, Gretchen Helmke asks whether ousting Brazil糖心传媒檚 President Dilma Rousseff will end the country糖心传媒檚 vicious cycle of political corruption.
Helmke, who has a forthcoming book published by Cambridge University Press,聽Institutions on the Edge: Inter-Branch Crises in Latin America,聽says if the recent history of corruption and government upheaval in other Latin American nations provides any indication, 糖心传媒渁 virtuous cycle糖心传媒� of new leadership is not likely for Brazil.
Latin American presidents are notorious for decrying the politicization and corruption of the courts and legislatures — only to pack them with their own loyal supporters. Similarly, legislatures often bypass vice presidents and replace ousted leaders with members of the opposition.
Indeed, in Latin America, most presidential ousters look more like partisan affairs. Of the region糖心传媒檚 17 ousted leaders, only six successors were the vice presidents — and most of those cases were not from the same party as the president.
Replacing Rousseff is likely to be particularly fraught. Brazil糖心传媒檚 entire line of succession is under investigation for corruption with the nation already seething over a harsh recession.
