Brazil Faces Multiple Crises: Legally, Economically, Environmentally

FEATURING CECILIA SANTOS – Latin America’s largest nation, Brazil, is facing multiple crises all at once. In the wake of the effective ouster of President Dilma Rouseff, opposition forces, which took over the nation’s government, are now themselves in disarray. Interim President Michel Temer faces his own corruption probe and House Speaker Eduardo Cunha has been suspended from his seat.

The nation’s economy is in ruins, with the major mobile service company Oi SA declaring bankruptcy and President Temer approving the transfer of hundreds of billions of dollars to Rio de Janeiro for emergency funding ahead of the Olympics.

And, just a week ago, armed men attacked an indigenous community killing one man and injuring a dozen others. Clashes between indigenous groups and land owners are rising, indicating on-going battles over the protection of the environment and native tribes.

Cecilia Santos, Director of the Latin American Studies Program at the University of San Francisco.