Their Government in Chaos, Brazilians Fear the Joke Is on Them

Their Government in Chaos, Brazilians Fear the Joke Is on Them
An entire subgenre of Brazilian memes involves depictions of Mr. Temer as a modern-day Bela Lugosi — because the president is known for his formal demeanor, his penchant for dark suits
and is sometimes likened by his political adversaries to a "butler in a horror movie." Reacting to the explosion in memes, Mr. Temer’s government moved this week to stop Brazilians from using official photos of the president — which are found on government websites — for such purposes.
In what may have been a stab at a joke, Antonio Delfim Netto, 89, a former finance minister
and one of Brazil’s most prominent economists, said, "God has given up on Brazil," upending the sunny proverb — "God is Brazilian" — that remained in wide use here until recently.
By SIMON ROMEROMAY 26, 2017
RIO DE JANEIRO — Cartoonish depictions of Brazil’s president are so popular
that his office is trying to restrict access to his pictures — so they don’t get turned into lampoons on social media.
Everton said that The time has come for a clown to be at the helm of Brazil,
Some Brazilians joke that a bold outsider — like Tite, the coach turning around
the fortunes of Brazil’s national soccer team — should run the country instead.