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1 (November 16, 2018)

handle is hein.crs/crsmthzzbzp0001 and id is 1 raw text is: CRS INSIGHT Brazil's Presidential Election Updated November 16, 2018 (IN10976) Related Author aPeter L Meyer Peter J. Meyer, Specialist in Latin American Affairs (pmeyer crsl c o, 7-5474) Brazil-the fifth most populous country and ninth-largest economy in the world-held presidential, legislative, and state elections in October 2018. Antiestablishment sentiment carried the day, as voters elected Jair Bolsonaro, a far-right populist, to the presidency and replaced nearly half of congress. The results could have significant implications for Brazil's domestic policies as well as its relationship with the United States. Domestic Context The 2018 election took place as Brazil was struggling to emerge from a series of domestic crises. The country fell into a deep recession in 2014, due to a decline in global commodity prices and economic mismanagement under the center-left Workers Party (PT) government of President Dilma Rousseff (2011-2016). The unemployment rate more than doubled as the economy contracted by more than 8A from 2015 to 2016. Although economic growth returned in 2017, conditions remain difficult. E 02% of the population is unemployed, and al formerly middle-class Brazilians now live in poverty. Budget cuts have exacerbated the situation, limiting Brazilian authorities' capacity to provide social services and address challenges such as escalating crime annd violence. Brazil also is contending with the repercussions of massive corruption scandals. Since 2014, investigators have uncovered arrangements throughout the public sector in which businesses provided bribes and illegal campaign donations to politicians in exchange for contracts or other favorable government treatment. The revelations discredited much of Brazil's political establishment and contributed to the cntroersial impeachment and removal from office of President Rousseff in August 2016. These repeated political crises have polarized Brazilian society and significanl Qrgdei Brazilians' faith in democracy. President Michel Temer, who succeeded Rousseff, has been extremely unpopular. In October 2018, 89%Q of Brazilians disapproved of his administration. Temer's center-right government enacted several major economic reforms, including measures to freeze government spending for 20 years, weaken worker protections, and allow greater private sector participation in Brazil's oil sector. Those policies were applauded by international investors but had little support among the Brazilian people. Temer's efforts to shield himself from corruption charges further alienated the population. Election Results Brazilians' discontent with the political class manifested itself at the polls. In legislative elections, voters ousted 75%L of

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