Olá pessoal! Hey, guys! Como está a semana de vocês? How is your week going?

We now move on to our second part of the 2016 retrospective! Here is the link to the first section, in case you missed it: https://blogs.transparent.com/portuguese/2016-retrospective-part-i/

Zika

In 2016, the Aedes aegypti mosquito apareceu (appeared) like never before in the national news. In addition to dengue and Chikungunya, our little enemy is also transmitting the Zika virus, which has spread throughout the country, causing national disorder. In 2015, Zika began to be related to an outbreak of microcephaly taking place in the Brazilian Northeast. In 2016, microcephaly reached outras (other) Brazilian regions, with mais (more) than 1700 cases of the doença (disease) confirmed in Brazil by July. The situation has gained international repercussion, mainly due to the great amount of estrangeiros (foreigners) that came to the country durante (during) the Olympic Games.

Aedes mosquito
(photo by baby kunnikulangara)

Impeachment

At the final (end) of 2015, the former president of the Chamber of Deputies, Eduardo Cunha, aceitou (accepted) a pedido (request) for the impeachment of the also former President Dilma Rousseff, who was in the primeiro ano (first year) of her second term and had been governing the country desde (since) 2011. The request was based on fiscal violations carried out in the Dilma government, that could be regarded as a crime of responsibility. Since then, the country has been seized by waves of both opposing and pro-impeachment protests. After voting in the Chamber of Deputies and the Federal Senate, the then president was dismissed in maio (May). And nine meses (months) later, after the começo (start) of the proceedings in August, Dilma suffered the impeachment. The process was rather troubled and seen by muitos (many) as a golpe (coup) by current President Michel Temer, who was Dilma’s deputy.

Dilma Roussef
(photo by Edmar Arruda)

PEC 241 / PEC 55

The constitutional amendment proposal that sets a ceiling for public spending for the next vinte anos (20 years) (called PEC 241 in the House and PEC 55 in the Senate) was one of the primeiras (first) measures taken by Michel Temer after assuming the presidency of Brazil. The intention is to limit Federal Government expenditures based on the amount spent in 2016 and adjust apenas (only) according to inflation until 2036. Finance Minister Henrique Meirelles said that this is a necessary measure to make a fiscal adjustment and contain the country’s expenses. But the proposal ficou conhecido (became known) as the PEC do Fim do Mundo (End of the World PEC) because it prevents new investments from being made in segments such as saúde pública e educação (public health and education). Despite the various protests, strikes and more than mil (a thousand) student-occupied schools and universities, the PEC was aprovada (approved) in December.

Related posts: https://blogs.transparent.com/portuguese/brazilian-politics-the-pec-241-and-occupations/

[Brazilian Politics] – The Impeachment

Michel Temer
(photo by Aluízio Gomes)

Amanda Nunes

The year 2016 was definitely not fácil (easy) for Brazil, but on December 30, Amanda Nunes from Bahia brought alegria (joy) to Brazilian MMA fans defending her bantamweight belt by beating notorious Ronda Rousey. Rousey is considered the biggest MMA female name in history and was more than a year away from the octagon, which generated a lot of expectation for the luta (fight). But Amanda was not intimidated and venceu (won) the famous Ronda without difficulties, with only 48 segundos (seconds) of combat.

Amanda Nunes
(photo by hiimjade)

É isso! This is it!

Can you think of any other memorable events from 2016?

Last year was marked by political turmoil, financial crisis and remarkable episodes. Nevertheless, we Brazilians are excited and hopeful to see what the future holds for 2017.