Michel Temer, 75, who on Wednesday officially took over Brazil’s presidency from his former ally, the leftist Dilma Rousseff, does not have a easy job ahead. The new government faces old problems and a crisis of legitimacy that have been brewing for months.
The country remains divided after the power struggle in Brasilia. Immediately after her removal, Rousseff promised “tireless opposition” to Temer, her former vice president, and to the “new Brazil” touted on Thursday in the country’s Senate by right-wing legislator Ana Amelia Lemos.
Rousseff and her Workers Party (PT) describe her controversial impeachment as a “parliamentary coup”. But even more virulent attacks came from the other side: the far-right deputy Jair Bolsonaro, for example, gave a tip of the hat to the country’s 1964-1985 military dictatorship as he celebrated Rousseff’s fall.
Tensions reached the streets as well, in particular in Sao Paulo, where violent demonstrations in favour of Rousseff broke out alongside the toasts to Temer.
Temer’s government will have to face questions about its legitimacy, a heavy ballast for an unelected president.
Many believe Brazil needs new elections, as Rousseff proposed several days ago in a last-ditch effort to avoid removal from office.
But Brazil’s presidential system does not allow for early elections solely due to a shifting of alliances in the legislature, as happened after Temer’s Democratic Movement Party (PMDB) abandoned Rousseff in March.
Were elections to be called, the new president would have little chance, according to polls: his popularity rating hasn’t reached double digits for months.
Temer’s mandate ends in December 2018.
Economically, things are not looking great. Brazil is in the second year of a deep recession, with its economy expected to contract 3.3%  in 2016.
Latin America’s largest economy has in recent years collapsed as its economic model, which in 2010 generated 7.5%  growth, has eroded.
Energy revenue has vanished, in part due to a corruption scandal in the state-controlled oil company Petrobras.
“We inherit a country submerged in a grave economic crisis. There are nearly 12mn unemployed,” Temer said on Wednesday.
His government plans to slash public spending, and is expected to cut back on the social programmes promoted by the PT over the last 13 years.
Temer has announced among other measures a reform of the pension system.
The accusations of a coup d’etat have resonated throughout the region since Rousseff’s removal.
A Latin American leader in recent years, Brazil has now lost support from neighbouring countries.
Leftist governments, particularly those in the orbit of socialist Venezuela, reacted harshly to the change of leadership in Brasilia.
Caracas withdrew its ambassador, a measure also announced by Ecuador and Bolivia, while Cuba and Nicaragua directly attacked the new government.
Since Temer’s swearing-in, other countries have opted instead for an eloquent silence.