Rift between Brazil's Rousseff, key ally worsens political crisis

A letter sent Monday to embattled Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff by her deputy revealing an appalling rift has deepened the country's political crisis.

In the letter, Vice President Michel Temer, head of the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB), the biggest party in Rousseff's governing coalition, describes a series of events in the last five years that show how Rousseff, who is facing impeachment, has "never trusted" him or his party.

While Temer's letter was sent to Rousseff confidentially, it was leaked to the press from within the president's office, though it remains unclear by whom.

Rousseff and her collaborators had hoped that Temer would speak out publicly against the impeachment proceedings. But that did not happen.

On Monday, Rousseff stressed that Temer had her full confidence, only hours before she received the letter.

Although Temer did not suggest in the letter that the PMDB would leave the coalition led by Rousseff's Workers' Party, the letter will throw a wrench into the way the PT has planned to deal with impeachment proceedings.

Until now, the government has viewed it highly unlikely that the Chamber of Deputies will vote in favor of impeachment as the opposition will need the help of third parties to succeed. But with this attitude from Temer, who currently leads the PMDB, the way how its members will vote is uncertain.

Temer's distancing himself from Rousseff has been anticipated by the recent resignation of Eliseo Padilha as minister of civil aviation. Padilha is considered to be a close political ally of Temer and his departure was seen as the potential start of the the PMDB's siding with the opposition to impeach Rousseff.

The political horse-trading in Brasilia has polarized political figures across the country.

Leonardo Picciani, the PMDB's leader in the Chamber of Deputies, on Tuesday slammed Temer. However, Picciani, who has been a staunch defender of Rousseff, is under pressure to resign.

On Nov. 4, the nine governors from the northeast of Brazil, the country's poorest area, said that they opposed the impeachment, which they branded as illegitimate.

On Nov. 5, Ciro Gomes, one of Brazil's most popular politician, slammed Temer for being "captain of the coup," saying that if Temer supports the impeachment, he will begin similar proceedings against Temer. Endi