Politics in Brazil: Dilma tries to drain the swamp | The Economist

Politics in Brazil: Dilma tries to drain the swamp | The Economist.

As another minister goes, Brazil’s president may find that the price of trying to clean up politics involves forgoing reforms the country needs.

SHE arrived in the presidential palace with a reputation as a no-nonsense manager, but one who had never previously held elected office. Almost eight months into her term as Brazil’s president, Dilma Rousseff has found herself sucked into the political swamp that is Brasília. She has reacted firmly to corruption scandals, and is striving to trim budget pork and to fill senior government jobs on merit rather than through political connections. Her reward has been signs of mutiny in her coalition. With the world economy deteriorating, whether Ms Rousseff can impose her authority on her allies matters a lot for Brazil’s prospects.