How Bolsonaro escaped the August curse

August is over, to the delight of many Brazilians. The eighth month of the year is infamously associated with bad luck in Brazil, in a country which takes its superstitions very seriously.

In some circles, August is nicknamed the “Month of the Mad Dog” because, apparently, Brazil’s climate in the middle of the year causes female dogs to be in heat, driving male dogs crazy. The bad luck, though, may date back to colonial times. August was traditionally the month where 15th and 16th century explorers would leave European shores to find new lands abroad, a risky business that many never returned from.

In Brazilian politics, the Month of the Mad Dog has thrown up a surprising number of twists and turns for decades now.

In 2019, though, the August curse took it easy. While this month was quite eventful for President Jair Bolsonaro—principally due to the Amazon crisis—this has been something of the norm for the current head of state. Compared to many of his predecessors—who were ousted from office or even died in August—Mr. Bolsonaro’s first go at the Month of the Mad Dog was a walk in the park.

2016. President Dilma Rousseff is impeached

On August 31, 2016, the Senate finished impeachment proceedings against then-President Dilma Rousseff. She had been suspended from office in May of that year after a vote from the lower house, and senators adjudged she had been guilty of illegal budget maneuvers, finalizing her impeachment.

The entire process was a highly controversial, divisive affair, with Brazilians split between those who said Ms. Rousseff’s...