Over a year after being ousted as Brazil's president by the legislature, Dilma Rousseff seeks reconciliation — not retribution. "We cannot promote revenge in the upcoming election," she told DW recently in Berlin.
Image: DW/C. Neher
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DW: How would you judge the state of affairs in Brazil in the 14 months since your removal from office?
Dilma Rousseff: The coup against me had three different phases. The first began with my impeachment. The second had to do with the reforms being pursued now: legislative proposals to freeze expenditures for health care and education as well as cutting back worker protections. Privatization is also part of that. The third phase is aimed at stopping former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from mounting a campaign for Brazil's upcoming presidential elections.
What do you expect to happen in the 2018 presidential election?
Brazilians are noticing that Lula is being politically persecuted. What makes me say that? His approval ratings are continuing to go up every day. Brazilians have recognized that Lula was the best president the country ever had. I am hopeful that he will return to the office of the presidency. Political opponents and media outlets were able to turn public opinion against Lula and the PT (Workers' Party) during my impeachment. They took advantage of the people's lack of knowledge. But the people will see through the plan.
What do you think of the PT's rapprochement with its former coalition partner, the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB) in some states? Isn't it a contradiction to speak of a legislative coup on the one hand but to cooperate with the former political partner that betrayed you on the other?
An alliance with the PMDB is highly unlikely at the national level. But why should it be forbidden to enter into an alliance with Roberto Requiao? Senator Requiao is a member of the PMDB, but he did not vote to impeach me. Former Agriculture Minister Katia Abreu also fought against the coup.
Are Brazilian politics in need of a renewal in the wake of the impeachment? Wouldn't this be a good opportunity to create space for new political leadership — especially on the left?
That is something you could call a "recipe for how to get rid of Lula." Seriously: What do the conservatives have to show for their effort? They have strengthened the right-wing extremist MBL (Free Brazil Movement) and its candidate, Jair Bolsonaro. And what else is new in Brazil? An incompetent head of government, like a Brazilian version of Donald Trump? Joao Doria, the new mayor of Sao Paulo? Do you know what I think is interesting and different? I think the fact that the Brazilian people are engaged in the hashtag campaign #coisadepreto (a black thing) to defend themselves against the racist comments of TV moderator William Waack is something new and good. The PT is also part of that. They are all fighting against racism and social injustice, just like Lula and I.
Rousseff and Lula say they are the targets of a reactionary campaignImage: Reuters/U. Marcelino
What do your days look like one year after leaving office?
Well, that depends on where I am, whether Sao Paulo, Berlin or elsewhere. I participate in conferences, processions and debates. And, whenever possible, I bike for at least 50 minutes a day. When I am in Porto Alegre, I spend time with my grandchildren and they sleep over at my house. As a grandmother I have the privilege of being able to spoil my grandchildren and then give them back to their mother.
Unlike in the United States or many European nations, there does not seem to a fixed role for ex-presidents in Brazil. What kind of former president do you want to be?
An ex-president is only entitled to a security detail and a small office. At some point it must be determined just what kind of protection a former head of state is afforded. I also don't think that a former head of government should be able to return to private business — that goes against what the position stands for. The USA, for instance, has precise rules regarding such activity.
Will you be an ex-president who will run for a new political office?
I will not stop my political activity just because I am a former president or because I no longer have a political mandate. I have been politically active my entire life and have even been jailed for that activity.
Police use tear gas at pro-Rousseff protest
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Will you run for office again?
I wouldn't rule out a candidacy, but I also haven't given it much serious thought. If I were to tell Brazilians that I will not run again and then change my mind later, I would have to provide a thousand explanations as to why. I consider it a possibility simply because I don't want to owe anyone an explanation.
Are you convinced that history will prove that you were right to object to your impeachment?
It already has. Eduardo Cunha, the parliamentary president that introduced the articles of impeachment against me, has been removed from office and sentenced to nine years in prison. And that is where he is now. A number of indictments have also shown that votes for my impeachment were paid for with bribes. Furthermore, it has been proven that the grounds for my impeachment were simply a false pretext to get me out of office: I did not commit one single crime. The argument that my impeachment would solve Brazil's political and economic crises has also been disproved, for the political crisis has only worsened. The current president (Michel Temer) has recently been indicted, as has Senator Aecio Neves. There is damning evidence against both of them. Nevertheless, both are still in office, whereas Lula and I were convicted simply because we were presidents.
What a difference a year makes: world leaders who left office in 2016
Impeachment, resignation, death and constitutional law have all had a hand in recent changes at the political top table. DW looks back at the leaders we said goodbye to this year.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/J. Samad
John Mahama, Ghana - defeated
In the 2012 general election, John Mahama beat Nana Akufo-Addo to the presidency. On December 9 2016, the tables were turned and Mahama conceded defeat to his rival. Akufo-Addo's father, who served as president from 1970 to 1972, was one of Ghana's so-called "founding fathers."
Image: Getty Images /AFP
Park Geun-hye, South Korea - impeached
On December 8, South Korea's parliament voted to impeach the president over her alleged involvement in a corruption scandal. In recent weeks, mass protests across the country have called for Park's removal from office. Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn has become interim president.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/Jeon Heon-Kyun
Matteo Renzi, Italy - resigned
The Italian prime minister tendered his resignation on December 7 after less than two years in the job. He had staked the future of his premiership on a referendum on constitutional change, which voters rejected on December 4. His ambition to tear down the political establishment earned him the nickname "il ramattore" - the Demolisher.
Image: Reuters/A. Bianchi
John Key, New Zealand - resigned
After eight years in the job, New Zealand's popular prime minister resigned unexpectedly on December 5, explaining that he wanted to spend more time with his family and avoid clinging to power. He said: "This is the hardest decision I've ever made and I don't know what I'll do next." Key will be succeeded by Bill English, the current finance minister.
Image: Reuters/Nigel Marple
Yahya Jammeh, Gambia - defeated
After elections on December 1, Jammeh unexpectedly conceded defeat to political newcomer Adama Barrow. On December 9, he backtracked and called for a rerun. Jammeh seized power in a military coup in 1994 and once said "Allah elected me, and only Allah can remove me." He has been accused of committing human rights violations, including arbitrary detention and torture.
Image: Getty Image/AFP/M. Longar
Francois Hollande, France - end of term
France goes to the polls next April, but President Hollande, whose public approval rating dipped as low as 4 percent in November, announced on December 2 that he would not seek a second term in office. He said he wanted to give the Left the best chance to "triumph over conservatism and, worse still, extremism."
Image: Getty Images/AFP/M. Euler
Barack Obama, US - end of term
Although President Obama won't officially leave office until January, his successor is already waiting - and working - in the wings. Donald Trump scored a surprise election victory in November, beating Democrat rival Hillary Clinton. Having already served two terms as president, Obama was not eligible for reelection.
Image: Reuters/K. Lamarque
Islam Karimov, Uzbekistan - died
Uzbekistan's authoritarian president died on September 2 at the age of 78. Karimov had been in power since 1991, when the country became an independent nation following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Interim leader Shavkat Mirziyoyev won the presidential elections on December 4.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/M. Shemetov
Dilma Rousseff, Brazil - impeached
Brazil's Senate voted to impeach the president on September 1, over the alleged manipulation of government accounts. Rousseff referred to the process as a "parliamentary coup" and vowed to appeal the decision. Her former vice president, Michel Temer, is now in charge.
Image: Reuters/U. Marcelino
Boiko Borisov, Bulgaria - resigned
Bulgaria's pro-EU prime minister resigned after presidential elections on November 13 saw opposition candidate Rumen Radev sweep to victory. Former nightclub bouncer and firefighter Borisov was also prime minister from 2009 to 2013, but stepped down amid public protests over poverty and corruption.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/B. Troshev
Nicolae Timofti, Moldova - end of term
Timofti was elected president by parliament in 2012. However, this practice was ruled unconstitutional by the courts earlier this year, paving the way for the first direct presidential elections in Moldova since 1996. On October 30, Igor Dodon won the presidency on a platform of closer ties with Russia.
Image: Vadim Denisov/AFP/Getty Images
Milo Djukanovic, Montenegro - resigned
Djukanovic has served on and off as prime minister and president of the small Balkan country for 25 years. He resigned from his latest stint as prime minister following parliamentary elections on October 16, in which his Democratic Party of Socialists, which favors stronger connections to the EU, failed to secure an absolute majority.
Image: Reuters/S. Vasiljevic
David Cameron, UK - resigned
In a referendum on July 23, Britain voted to leave the European Union. The prime minister, who had led the unsuccessful Remain campaign, appeared outside Downing Street the next day to announce his resignation. He later also resigned as a member of parliament.
Image: picture alliance/dpa/A. Rain
Boni Yayi, Benin - end of term
After two terms in office, former banker Yayi was required to step down this year. More than 30 candidates were in the running to be his successor, including current prime minister Lionel Zinsou. However, Zinsou was defeated in the second round on March 20 by businessman Patrice Talon, also known as the "King of Cotton", who was accused of being involved in an alleged plot to poison Yayi in 2012.
Image: Reuters
Catherine Samba-Panza, Central African Republic - interim
Samba-Panza was appointed president in 2014 amid a raging civil war between Muslim and Christian militias. Some 10,000 UN peacekeepers were deployed around the country on February 14 as voters went to the polls. Faustin-Archange Touadera, who emerged as the winner, pledged to reunify the country.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/E. Dunand
Ikililou Dhoinine, Comoros - end of term
The presidency of the Comoros rotates between the three main islands: Anjouan, Grande Comore and Mohéli. Dhoinine's five-year term came to an end this year and he will be succeeded by Azali Assoumani, who previously assumed power in 1999 after a bloodless coup. The elections on February 21 were marred by accusations of ballot stuffing and some incidents of violence.
