Following the disarray of the Rousseff years, Brazil’s new president has his work cut out.

In May, Michel Temer became Brazil’s unelected, interim president after months of congressional debate, approvals, annulments and more approvals over Dilma Rousseff’s impeachment. Promoted from his role as vice-president, Mr Temer will serve until the end of what would have been Ms Rousseff’s second term, in 2018.

Most Brazilians, across all social classes, are delighted at the change: Ms Rousseff presided over the country’s worst economic recession since the 1930s, the rise of both unemployment and inflation and a public deficit spiralling to the size of one-10th of gross domestic product (GDP).

Worse still, during her tenure, state-run oil giant Petrobras was revealed to be running a system of bribes and favours between the rich and powerful of Brazil, strangling business investment. External factors such as the dip in the commodities supercycle and lower demand from China were the economic triggers, but it was populist policies and a lack of structural reforms that really sent Brazil's GDP plummeting.

Mr Temer, by comparison, holds more orthodox views. In the past he has advocated reform of Brazil’s generous public pension system, labour laws and tax system, as well as privatisations.

Ms Rousseff had united Brazilians – in that an overwhelming majority wanted her out – and was seen by some to embody many of the country’s ills. Mr Temer, on the other hand, is viewed more kindly by international markets, but even if he manages to steer the economy along a more sustainable path, there’s a risk that this may be too drastic an adjustment for the people who voted for a populist – not a liberal – as their president. There is also a chance that the efforts of an unelected president may not count for much.

Either way, just as with his predecessor, Mr Temer might end up displeasing Brazilians too. Galvanised by the change they helped to bring about, voters might be even quicker in taking to the streets next time. 

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