Brazilian President Michel Temer, the son of Lebanese immigrants, is facing calls for impeachment just over a year >since he rose to power following the ousting of Dilma Rousseff.
Now, angry members of Brazil's congress and crowds of protesters are calling for Temer's removal, according to The Guardian. Leading Brazilian media have reported on tapes and videos revealing Temer offering hush-money to a jailed associate.
Temer, along with many other Brazilian politicians, was already under investigation when he took over as President from his predecessor. He had already >been banned from running for any political office for at least eight years, due to violating election laws.
Critics have called Temer's rise to power a "political coup". At the time of Roussef's impeachment, Temer was vice president. This meant her removal from office allowed him to take power, even though he wouldn't have been allowed to run in an election.
Temer denies the most recent allegations against him. But two Brazilian congressmen have submitted impeachment motions. Crowds are chanting "Fora Temer" (Temer out) in the streets.
On social media, many are expressing their discontent ... and making a lot of pop culture comparisons.
Beyond the corruption investigations, Temer has drawn significant criticism for decisions he made after taking office.
As soon as Roussef – Brazil's first female president – was impeached, Temer cobbled together a cabinet composed entirely of men. For the first time since the 1970s, women had zero representation in Brazil's cabinet.
Temer's government also immediately began to "soften the definition of slavery, roll back the demarcation of indigenous land, trim housebuilding programs and sell off state assets in airports, utilities and the post office," according to The Guardian.
When Temer took power, many Lebanese rejoiced at the news. Others mocked the fact that Brazil had a Lebanese President, while Lebanon had remained without a head of state for two years at the time. In October, Michel Aoun >became Lebanon's 13th president, after a nearly two and half year vacancy.