News Analysis: Brazil's new cabinet lineup draws controversy

No sooner had Brazil's interim President Michel Temer taken office than he faced criticism for unveiling a controversial cabinet lineup.

Temer's all-white, all-male cabinet sparked outcries for failing to represent not just women, but the country's ethnic diversity, including a large Afro-Brazilian population.

While his boss, Dilma Rousseff, who Temer replaced on Thursday, did not exactly have a rainbow coalition behind her, the fact that she was Brazil's first woman president made her a powerful symbol of equal rights. She also appointed a handful of women to ministerial posts and spearheaded government programs to empower women.

The center of the controversy is Tremer's way of ascending to the top office, as some have called the legislative procedure that has temporarily sidelined Rousseff a "parliamentary coup."

With that in mind, Temer's main task should have been to shore up his credibility and confidence in his new government. A cabinet that reflected diversity and forward thinking would have helped.

In addition, Brazil's political crisis has left the nation divided. The millions of Brazilians who reelected Rousseff in 2014 and are probably smarting from her suspension should have been spared the sight of Temer and his peers celebrating his ascension.

Some said Temer had squandered a valuable opportunity to signal the nation that from now on things will be looking up, not moving backwards.

However, he showed he can be responsive to criticism. On Monday, he announced he designated a woman -- Maria Silva Bastos, former head of one of Brazil's largest steelmakers -- as central bank president.

Temer also tried to get renowned journalist Marilia Gabriela to head the Culture Ministry, but she declined.

Still other moves have raised alarms among civic groups and rights activists, including downgrading the Ministry of Women, Racial Equality and Human Rights to a division within the Ministry of Justice, which is highly regarded as a clear sign that the interim government does not intend to champion these groups or causes.

In a country where sexism is widespread and there are human rights issues, such as police forces targeting poor black populations and jails being incredibly overcrowded, the move has sparked concerns.

Another agency that was downgraded was the Office of the Comptroller General (CGU), an independent entity responsible for inspecting and overseeing the federal government.

Some argue the decision to subject the CGU to oversight by another ministry will effectively reduce its autonomy to investigate the administration and fight structural corruption in Brazil.

Several of Temer's ministers are involved in corruption scandals linked to Operation Carwash, a federal police investigation into bribery and kickbacks at state oil giant Petrobras.

Lastly, Temer's new Finance Minister Henrique Meirelles started his mandate by saying that tax hikes might be necessary given Brazil's economic situation.

Brazil's taxes are notoriously harder on the poor and middle class, whose tax burden is larger than that on the rich.

Increasing taxes on the poorer groups may reduce public and congressional support for the Temer administration and Rousseff's impeachment.

To impeach Rousseff and strip her of the presidency, Temer and the opposition need the votes of over two thirds of the 81 senators. In the initial vote on whether or not to try Rousseff, they had 55. If public discontent rises, senators may not be willing to risk their necks for the new government and jump ship.

The Congress is a vital force for Temer to embrace, but it has proven to be a hard job, as the impeachment against President Rousseff has turned out to divide the nation between the working class and the business circle. Such is the case within the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate.

"Our Congress is fragmented, with many parties vying with each other. The Congress can't be neglected. He (Temer) has to offer enough ministerial posts to satisfy the parliamentarians. Controversial acts can get passed if the parliamentary support is strong," said Ronnie Lins, director of the Center of China-Brazil Research and Business.

Picking up the reins, Temer is tasked with the assignment to leverage a boom for Brazil, both domestically and internationally.

"The current change is the end of the last cycle and the start of the new government. All expect the situation to turn for the better, but all problems can't get settled at one punch. We don't have magic. It takes time, patience and tolerance, just like the impeachment (against the president) which will prolong," said Senator Ana Amelia Lemos. Endi