'A lot of testosterone and little pigment': Brazil's old elite deals a blow to diversity

'A lot of testosterone and little pigment': Brazil's old elite deals a blow to diversity

With Dilma Rousseff out, many doubt that the all-male, mostly white cabinet taking over can unite one of the world’s most ethnically diverse nations

Jonathan Watts in Rio de Janeiro
Friday 13 May 2016 14.35 EDT

Brazil’s image as a socially liberal, multi-ethnic democracy may always have been more myth than reality, but any lingering illusions of this type have been swept away by interim president Michel Temer’s appointment of the country’s first all-male cabinet since the end of dictatorship in1985.

After conspiring to suspend Brazil’s first female president, his former running mate Dilma Rousseff, the 75-year-old patrician quickly showed his conservative instincts with a mostly white lineup of ministers that also included a soy baron in charge of agriculture, and a finance minister who immediately declared the need for sweeping cuts.

As was evident by the scrum of white men in suits who surrounded the grinning leader during his inauguration speech, Brazil’s old elite are once again at the helm – and they feel little obligation to represent the 52% of the population who are women or the 53% who are of mixed race.

It was a stunning contrast to Rousseff’s departing cabinet and government team, which was far more diverse in gender and race.

More:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/13/brazil-dilma-rousseff-impeachment-michel-temer-cabinet

LBN:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141449762