Brazil's Michel Temer inherits presidency on shaky ground

RIO DE JANEIRO -- The permanent ouster of deeply unpopular President Dilma Rousseff by Brazil's Senate means a man who is arguably just as unpopular is faced with trying to ease the wounds of a divided nation mired in recession.

Long known as an uncharismatic backroom wheeler-dealer, Michel Temer inherits a shrinking economy, a Zika virus outbreak that has ravaged poor northeastern states and political instability fed by a sprawling corruption probe that has tarred much of the country's political and business elite -- himself included.

So far, he's struggled in the nearly four months he's served as interim president since Rousseff's May impeachment, which suspended her from office while a final trial was prepared.

The Senate's 61-20 vote Wednesday to remove her permanently means Temer, who had been her vice president, will serve out her term, which ends in late 2018.

Just hours after Rousseff was removed, Temer assured the nation his administration was up to the task.

"From today on, the expectations are much higher for the government. I hope that in these two years and four months, we do what we have declared -- put Brazil back on track," he said.

Temer also denied the proceedings were a coup against Rousseff, which she repeatedly claimed throughout the process.

"Putschist is you," he said, referring to Rousseff. "It's you who is breaking the constitution."